In photos - Giorgio Armani, the pioneer of refined elegance

In a career spanning more than five decades, the Italian designer was among the most influential ones of the twentieth century, crafting a vision that expanded from fashion to every aspect of life

Sep 06, 2025, 13:04 IST3 min

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Giorgio Armani had his First Communion when he was an 8-year-old boy. The image of a young, dapper Armani dressed up for the occasion appeared in his autobiography, “Per Amore.”

Image by Courtesy of Giorgio Armani

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The renowned Italian fashion designer Giorgio Armani was celebrated for his minimalist and sophisticated designs especially his “power suits.”

Image by Bob Krieger

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The Italian fashion designer (left) sitting at the table with his sister, Rosanna, in the 1980s. His siblings played a crucial role in the early development of Armani's fashion empire.

Image by Alberto Roveri\Mondadori via Getty Images

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Armani (left) with Italian businessman and stylist, Nino Cerruti. In the 1960s he designed menswear for the latter while freelancing for multiple manufacturers. This is where he honed his tailoring skills and began to question the rigid codes of traditional suiting. Cerruti had also founded his own haute couture house, Cerruti 1881, in 1967 in Paris.

Image by Forbes

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Armani is seen adjusting the silhouettes on the models for the Giorgio Armani Spring 1978 Ready-to-Wear Advance collection.

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An image from the Giorgio Armani Spring 1978 Ready to Wear runway. His tailoring for women fused masculine structure with feminine fluidity, enabling women to project confidence in professional spaces.

Image by WWD/Penske Media via Getty Images

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Armani at home. His homes often showcased a harmonious blend of global influences and local context, often featuring contrasting palettes of white and dark wood, and a deep connection to the surrounding natural environment.

Image by David Lees/Getty Images

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Armani with his canine companions at home. In 2024, his brand launched a line of dog products in collaboration with Poldo Dog Couture, featuring items such as collars, sweaters, and travel bags, which were advertised with models. A live dog was featured on the catwalk during the Spring/Summer 2025 show in New York.

Image by David Lees/Getty Images

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American actor and Academy Award winner, Diane Keaton, wore a tailored beige double-breasted jacket and long skirt by Giorgio Armani at the 50th Annual Academy Awards in 1978.

Image by Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images

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A pivotal inflection point in Armani’s career came in the early 1980s when Hollywood embraced his designs. Richard Gere’s wardrobe in American Gigolo (1980), consisting of sleek Armani suits, presented his aesthetic to an international audience. Soon after, he became the go-to designer for celebrities on red carpets and in films, earning him the nickname “the designer of stars”.A still of Gere’s sleek Armani suits — the film that made Armani a global name.

Image by Forbes