born July 11, 1934, Piacenza, Italy
Italian fashion designer.
He abandoned medical school and worked as a buyer for a department store (195764) before training as a fashion designer. In 197475 he introduced his own label of ready-to-wear apparel for men and women. In 198081 he founded Giorgio Armani USA, Emporio Armani, and Armani Jeans, and in 1989 he opened shops in London. He was a leader in the move toward a pared-down, unstructured silhouette in menswear and was responsible for the wide-shouldered look for executive women. His designs, often characterized by understated glamour and luxurious fabrics, introduced ease and streamlined modernity into late 20th-century dressing.