Giorgio Armani Passes Away at 91
Renowned fashion designer Giorgio Armani, credited with pioneering the trend of celebrity dressing for the red carpet, has died at the age of 91.
“IL signatories Armani was always regarded and warmly embraced by his team,” the Armani Group communicated in a statement Thursday morning.
“Although I couldn’t tire myself too much, he continued to work tirelessly until his final days, concentrating on his company, his collections, and various future projects.”
Born in Pianza, Italy in 1934, Armani originally aimed for a medical career but shifted gears after joining the Army in his early twenties. His fashion journey commenced in 1957 when he worked as a window dresser at La Linacente, a department store in Milan.
During the 1960s, he crafted menswear for various brands on a freelance basis before establishing his namesake label in 1975, which featured both menswear and womenswear.
This move set off a rapid expansion for Armani’s brand, with the introduction of swimsuits, underwear, and accessories in the early 1980s, followed by fragrances, Armani jeans, and the Emporio Armani line. Simultaneously, he ventured into costume design for films, famously crafting outfits for the 1980s movie “American Gigolo” among others.
He opened a boutique on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills and enlisted LA journalist Wanda McDaniel for VIP outreach. In 1978, Diane Keaton made a memorable statement when she donned a large beige Armani blazer while accepting her Best Actress Oscar for “Annie Hall,” marking the brand’s entry onto the red carpet.
Actresses who typically relied on film studio wardrobe departments initially expressed skepticism, with one saying, “I can dress myself, who is Giorgio Armani?”
However, stars like Michelle Pfeiffer soon embraced his designs, and by the 1990 Academy Awards, Armani dressed a roster of high-profile actresses including Julia Roberts, Jodie Foster, Jessica Lange, and Jessica Tandy.
“These women exuded strength,” noted Claire Sauro, a fashion historian and curator at Drexel University, reflecting on the 2016 post. “They provided a sharp contrast to the voluminous skirts of the era, capturing a modest charm that signified a shift from the opulence of the ’80s to the minimalism of the ’90s.”
While competitors like Valentino and Versace also initiated red carpet strategies, Armani’s influence persisted. In 1991, Richard Gere and Cindy Crawford were wed in Armani ensembles, and the subsequent year, Jodie Foster took home an Academy Award for “The Silence of the Lambs,” adorned in one of Armani’s elegant, light-hued suits (she would continue to favor his designs at the Oscars).
Celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2005, Armani enhanced his celebrity dressing approach with the introduction of his couture line, Armani Prive. “This is a significant financial commitment, yet it makes sense,” commented Sarah Mower in her Vogue review. “This special dress line aims directly at the Hollywood market where he’s had a substantial presence for years.”
An executive at Armani noted that Academy Awards stylists were already jamming phone lines in anticipation of the event.
While other fashion houses may have gone out of favor over time, a select group of top-tier actresses, including Cate Blanchett, Naomi Watts, Nicole Kidman, and Foster, have maintained their loyalty to Armani.
“Donning an Armani on the red carpet signifies you’ve made it,” stylist Ali Levine remarked in 2016.
