Having stood at the helm of his eponymous empire for 50 years, Giorgio Armani was nothing short of an industry legend. While he was internationally recognised as the pioneer of the power suit, the Italian designer was also one of fashion’s greatest cinephiles, with costume credits on over 200 films. From Goodfellas to The Dark Knight, the Italian designer dressed gangsters and superheroes, Wall Street traders and Silicon Valley entrepreneurs. With the news of his passing at the age of 91, Vogue charts Giorgio Armani’s 10 most memorable on-screen creations.
American Gigolo
Photo: Courtesy Everett Collection
Julian Kaye, the male escort at the centre of Paul Schrader’s 1980 drama, is the Armani man incarnate: louche, sophisticated and always impeccably dressed. The designer was commissioned to create Richard Gere’s wardrobe for the film just five years after having established his label. The film brought Armani international acclaim and revolutionised men’s tailoring, transforming the suit from a boxy workwear staple into something loose, light and decidedly elegant. There were also preppy shirts unbuttoned to the navel, crisp khaki trousers and a belted cashmere trench that combined Italian craftsmanship with all-out Hollywood glamour.
The Untouchables
Photo: Courtesy Everett Collection