Giorgio Armani

Giorgio Armani (born in Piacenza, Italy, July 11, 1934) brought a new concept to women's dressing, and has had the most influence on fashion since Christian Dior's "New Look" and Mary Quant's mini skirt. As more and more women established themselves in the work force on an executive level they were looking for an alternive kind of power dressing to the drab dark-grey-suit-blouse-with-floppy-tie look.

Armani, who used menswear fabrics in highly refined and sophisticated versions for his de-structured suits for women, was warmly embraced by legions of women who guaranteed his success. Today the head of a multi-million dollar business, Armani built his career step by careful step. A serious northerner from Piacenza, Armani's classic good looks and marble-blue eyes no doubt helped along the way, but hard work and tenacity brought him to his current position.

He began studies as a doctor, following the Italian maxim ofa doctor and a lawyer in every family but soon found out that medicine was not for him. After doing his obligatory military service in 1957 he went to work for Italy's leading department store La Rinascente, and found himself dressing windows and helping buyers. In 1964 Armani went to work for Nino Cerrutti, an important Italian textile manufacturer who also produced lines of clothing for men and women. Armani designed the Hitman line for men.

Working with a wide array of the finest textiles and learning the techniques of the business was fundamental for Armani's future success, as one distinguishing feature of his lines for men and women in the meticulous selection of fabrics used. In 1970 Armani, encouraged by the enthusiasm of close friend Sergio Galeotti, set up a free-lance design studio. He was very successful, designing for such manufacturers as Boulevard, Montedoro, Sicons, and Gibo. In 1974 the first Giorgio Armani menswear collection was presented, and by 1975 he had put aside enough money to launch, in partnership with Galleotti, the first women's line.

His jackets were an instant hit, and although some skeptics wondered what he would do for an encore, he steadily developed the Armani Look to include a highly original concept of evening dressing, which can be admired on television every year during the Academy Awards where many of the biggest stars, male and female, dress Armani, including Jodie Foster and Michelle Pfeiffer. Armani is very sensitive to the desires of his clients, and has said that although there are times when he would like to exercise his fantasy, he finds in the end that he sticks with the "Armani style". Although a workaholic, Armani does like to relax once in a while, in one of his homes in Broni, San Tropez, Forte dei Marmi, and Pantelleria.