Giorgio Armani is considered one of the greatest fashion designers because he completely reshaped how people think about elegance and style. In the 1970s and 80s, he revolutionized tailoring by softening the traditional men’s suit — removing stiff padding and structure — to create the famous “power suit” look that gave both men and women a sense of confidence and authority. For women especially, Armani’s clean, minimalist lines offered a new kind of sophistication at a time when female professionals were demanding fashion that reflected strength without sacrificing femininity.
Beyond design, Armani built a lifestyle empire: clothing, fragrance, accessories, even hotels, all under a consistent vision of understated luxury. He was also one of the first designers to bring high fashion to Hollywood, dressing stars like Richard Gere and making the Armani suit a cultural icon. His genius lay not only in design, but in branding — creating a world where elegance was about restraint, refinement, and timelessness rather than excess.
Armani revolutionised fashion with his clean lines, soft tailoring, and timeless elegance. His influence stretched far beyond the runway, shaping Hollywood wardrobes, red-carpet glamour, sports, and even architecture.
Recently he died at the age of 91, after a lifetime of amazing work. Here are some of our favourite fashion looks:
Grace Jones –
Known for her androgynous style and striking looks, Grace Jones was a perfect fit for Armanis sleek power suits, big in the 80’s!
Grace wears an Armani suit on the cover of her 1981 album, Nightclubbing.
Lady Gaga – Space Dress
Lady Gaga is known to frequently wear Armani designs, and her infamous ‘space dress’ was a classic look! Part of the Armani Prive collection, this dress was worn by Lady Gaga to the 2010 Grammy awards.
Julia Roberts
A young, emerging actress named Julia Roberts appeared at the 1990 Golden Globes, wearing a mens Armani suit. Nominated for ‘Steel Magnolias’, she wasn’t expected to win for Best Supporting Actress – but she did!
Zendaya 2024 Oscars
Zendaya looked absolutely stunning in a fitted Armani Prive dress at the 2024 Oscars!
Richard Gere American Gigolo Movie Costumes
Armani provided the costuming for the 1980 movie ‘American Gigolo’, including all of Richard Gere’s classy suits. This was Armani’s first major costume design role.
Cate Blanchett 2014 Academy Awards
Wearing a dazzling Armani Prive gown, Cate looked radiant when she won her Best Actress Oscar for ‘Blue Jasmine’.
1978 Academy Awards Diane Keaton
Diane Keaton wore an Armani suit to win her Oscar for Best Actress in ‘Annie Hall’. symbolizing the brand’s influence on formalwear and cementing its connection to Hollywood’s elite.
1992 Academy Awards Jodie Foster
Jodie Foster wore Armani for her Best Actress win in ‘The Silence of the Lambs’.
What are your fave Armani looks?
