Armani, Giorgio, 1934–, Italian fashion designer. He designed menswear at Nino Cerruti (1964–70), then worked freelance until 1975 when, in partnership with Sergio Galeotti, he opened his Milan design house. Armani was soon acclaimed for elegant, relaxed clothes, especially for fluidly tailored, understated suits for men and women, made of luxuriant fabrics in muted colors and often featuring softly lined “unconstructed” jackets. This approach was reflected in his wardrobe for Richard Gere in the film American Gigolo (1980). In the 1980s he became the favorite designer of the “power suit” for both sexes. Armani remains an important fashion designer, and has introduced a series of successful lines, including jeans, fabrics, underwear, fragrances, eyeglasses, housewares, sportswear (opening A/X in 1991), watches, cosmetics, and (in 2005) haute couture.
See studies by R. Martin and H. Koda (1990) and G. Celand and H. Koda (2000); Biography: Giorgio Armani (video, 2001).
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