“Armani dresses the wife and Versace dresses the mistress,” famously quoted by Anna Wintour – arguably the most powerful woman in fashion. But wasn’t this uxoriousness the very foundation of a new sartorial era for women in the 1960s? The Armani woman was indeed, ‘wifed up’ by this legendary man – and proud to say so. Very few designers leave indelible marks on the everchanging fashion industry – Giorgio Armani, who passed away on the 4th of September, aged 91, is an undeniable one of them.
Giorgio Armani, 1937 – 2025. Image credit: Business of Fashion
Following successes at renowned department store La Rinascente and influential haute couturier Nino Cerruti, Armani decided to shake things up. After listening to women who sought extra comfort in their workwear but also wanted a sense of dignity that placed them equally with men, Armani’s answer was power suits. Practical, comfortable yet feminine. He simultaneously softened menswear’s hard edges, playing both sides of the spectrum with unparalleled design skill.
Armani’s step into global fame came with dressing heartthrob Richard Gere in American Gigolo. His refined tailoring was unmistakable in almost every scene – which led to a longstanding love affair with Hollywood.
You can instantly tell when a designer reveres women. For Armani, this was his sartorial love language that made his showstopping glamour a Hollywood favourite.
From Julia Roberts winning her Golden Globe in a fabulously oversized gray suit, to Jodie Foster’s pearlescent ensemble, and of course, our very own Cate Blanchett winning her Oscar for Blue Jasmine looking no less than a princess in that sparkly cascading creation. These creations were a testament to his skilful design range – from sharp tailoring, femininity with the softest edges to show-stopping haute couture.
From Julia Roberts to Cate Blanchett, Armani has dressed the biggest stars in haute couture. Image credit: @reaganmarshall and news.com.au
From the 1990s through to the 2000s, Armani added multiple feathers to his cap – Armani Jeans, Armani Exchange, Emporio Armani and one of the most luxurious beauty brands with the L’Oreal group. He once said to a reporter that he was “never satisfied – in fact, as someone who is forever dissatisfied and obsessive in his search for perfection, I never give up until I’ve achieved the results I want.” There was no rest for this king – he had soon added sportswear, accessories, fragrances and eyewear to his empire, giving fashion aficionados the total Armani look.
Oh, and did we mention some of the interiors of the Burj Khalifa has Armani written all over it, too? Occupying several floors of the iconic skyscraper, the hotel has its own entrance, inviting guests into a celebration of faultless Italian craftsmanship, pure luxury and residences boasting the classic Armani Casa finish.
Despite possessing an empire extending quite beyond the realms of fashion, Armani was an intensely private man. You could almost mistake his silence for shyness – but it was a deep-rooted, linear sense of discipline and unshakeable faith to his craft. He always thought his life’s greatest failure was his inability to prevent the death of his beloved partner, Sergio Gaeleotti, who died of AIDS complications in 1985.
Armani’s legacy on the fashion industry is truly eternal – when a man’s waistcoat has that little bit of give, when that blazer’s sharpness gives a woman a confidence boost before her board meeting, and when a gown ebbs and flows on her like soft waves. When she’s in the ‘Si,’ state of mind after a couple of spritzes of her eau de parfum, that is Armani’s legacy – enduring and unmistakable.
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