Elegance doesn't age: Remembering Armani

Stylish suits were Giorgio Armani's trademark. The designer was always considered a perfectionist. Ever since his first collection in 1974, he used clean lines and classic colors to create his elegant yet comfortable suits, like these in the 2015 summer collection.

In 1975 Armani created his first women's collection, which had much in common with his menswear. The creations did away with the silhouettes traditionally assigned to each gender, and were perfectly suited to the zeitgeist of the women's emancipation movement. His men's suits were softer and less square in the shoulders, while his womenswear had a masculine touch that conveyed strength.

In 1966, the young Armani met Sergio Galeotti, the man who would become his lifelong partner. Galeotti was an architect, and he encouraged the fashion designer to open an office in Milan. In 1975 the pair founded the Giorgio Armani fashion house. After Galeotti's death in 1985, Armani (pictured here in 1978) took over his 50% share of the business, and has been the sole owner ever since.

Armani became Italy's most successful fashion designer. Forbes listed him as one of the five wealthiest Italians, with an estimated net worth in 2024 of more than €10.4 billion ($12.1 billion). He owned more than 2,000 shops and 13 factories, and employed more than 8,700 people.

Giorgio Armani's early years were not particularly glamorous. He was born in 1934 to a family of humble means in the small town of Piacenza near Milan. Later in life, Armani lived somewhat reclusively and didn't make many appearances on the fashion scene. His trademark outfit was a blue cashmere sweater and simple trousers, which he even wore to fashion shows.

Ever since childhood, Armani was a film buff. He understood early on that Hollywood offered the perfect advertising opportunity, and he was one of the first European designers to open a store in Los Angeles. In 1980, he designed the costumes for "American Gigolo," starring Richard Gere. He also created the suits worn in "The Wolf of Wall Street" (2013) with Leonardo DiCaprio.

Besides actors, Giorgio Armani also clothes athletes. At the 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London, the Italian national team wore Armani. The players of Germany's Bayern Munich team also wore custom suits by the Italian star designer. His interest in sports was broad: Armani also owned a basketball team in Milan.

In the 1980s, Armani expanded his repertoire by adding a line of perfumes. His empire also included several hotels - including one located in the tallest building in the world, Burj Khalifa in Dubai (pictured). He also sold coffee, chocolate and jam, and was involved in the design of a car model for Mercedes Benz. "Emporio Armani," as his label is called, is no overstatement.

The color grey is central to Armani's creations. He once explained his preference for grey by saying that one couldn't be a "bright flamingo" in a city like Milan. The color was so important to the designer that he even created his own hue: "greige" is a mix between grey and beige.

Armani was among the first fashion designers to ban emaciated models from his catwalks. He emphasized that he aimed for his designs to meet the needs of the people, not merely exist as abstract concepts.