Giorgio Armani, fashion icon, dies at 91
File: Giorgio Armani walks the runway as part of Paris Fashion Week on January 22, 2019. (Photo by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images)
Giorgio Armani, the iconic Italian designer who turned his style and vision into a multibillion-dollar company, has died. He was 91.
From the executive office to the Hollywood screen, Armani dressed the rich and famous in classic tailored styles, fashioned in super-soft fabrics and muted tones. His handsome black tie outfits and glittering evening gowns often stole the show on award season red carpets.
"I design for real people. There is no virtue whatsoever in creating clothes and accessories that are not practical," he used to say when asked to identify his clientele.
Giorgio Armani’s death
What we know:
The Armani fashion house, one of the biggest names in the industry, said he died at home.
What we don't know:
His cause of death was not immediately released. Armani skipped the runway shows during Milan Fashion Week in June because of his declining health, but was planning a major event to celebrate 50 years of his signature Giorgio Armani fashion house during Milan Fashion Week this month.
Giorgio Armani’s life and career
The backstory:
Born July 11, 1934, in Piacenza, a small town south of Milan, Armani wanted to be a doctor before a part-time job as a window decorator in a Milan department store introduced him to the fashion world.
In 1975, Armani and his partner Sergio Galeotti sold their Volkswagen for $10,000 to start up their own menswear ready-to-wear label. Womenswear followed a year later.
The 1980 film classic "American Gigolo" launched both Armani and actor Richard Gere on their Hollywood careers. Dressed in Armani, Gere became America’s new favorite heart throb, and "Geeorgeeo" as they called him, the glam set’s most popular designer.
The Hollywood connection earned him wardrobe film credits in over 200 films, and in 2003 a place on Rodeo Drive’s "Walk of Fame."
Other longtime devotees included Jodie Foster, George Clooney, Sofia Loren and Brad Pitt. David and Victoria Beckham were the "face" of his 2009 underwear ad campaign.
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Armani style began with Giorgio Armani himself, from the penetrating blue eyes framed in a permanent tan and early-age shock of silver hair, to the trademark jeans and t-shirt work clothes and the minimalist decoration of his private homes.
His signature design was the liningless sports jacket, which was launched in the late 1970s and became an instant success from Hollywood to Wall Street. The designer paired the jacket with a simple t-shirt, an item of clothing he termed "the alpha and omega of the fashion alphabet."
Armani also owned several bars, clubs, restaurants and his own basketball team EA7 Emporio Armani Milan, better known as Olympia Milano. Armani opened more than 20 restaurants from Milan to Tokyo since 1998, and two hotels, one in Dubai in 2009 and another in Milan, in 2010.
The Italians called him Re Giorgio (King George).
The Source: This report includes information from The Associated Press.