A Look Back on Giorgio Armani’s Best Red Carpet Power Suits
This week, the fashion world lost one of its greats: Giorgio Armani, the prolific and influential Italian designer who shaped an entire industry, has died at 91.
Among his many accolades, Armani is perhaps best known for setting the look of the 1980s, popularizing the sharp-shouldered suits of the decade—for him and her. And while Armani has continued to dominate the red carpet world with his glitzy gowns in the years that have followed (he is the unofficial king of dressing celebrities for the Oscars, after all), it’s his stylish history of power suits that remain a unique and shining showpiece in his fashion legacy.
Think of some of the most iconic (and most discussed) suits in Hollywood, and there’s a good chance that Mr. Armani designed them. When Julia Roberts attended the 1990 Golden Globes, she made headlines for eschewing a traditional glitzy gown in favor of one of Armani’s gray two-piece suits—styled with the customary shirt and tie. As revealed in her Life in Looks video, the suit was actually a menswear style that she had custom-fitted to her. “I could not have known that it was going to become this statement outfit,” says Roberts. “I just thought I looked fabulous.”
Armani has certainly reimagined the mensy suit in the years that have followed—proving that, yes, it can be alluring and utterly fabulous. Everyone from A-listers like Nicole Kidman to rock royalty like Tina Turner has slipped into his sleek and tailored creations on the red carpet. In 2015, Rihanna attended the BET Awards in his satiny-khaki short suit, putting her miles-long legs on full display; The look was cool, sexy, and elegant all at the same time, all adjectives that could be applied to Armani’s distinctive design aesthetic.
More recently, the new crop of young Hollywood talent has continued to recognize the appeal of a well-cut Armani suit, too. Last year, Mikey Madison wore his bright-red skirt suit to the Vanity Fair Rising Star Party during her buzzy awards season run for Anora. That is simply the beauty of the Armani suit: It transcends generations and looks good on just about anyone—at any age. The same can be said for his classic sequin-covered dresses, of course, but there is something undeniably legendary about the slick tailoring that will be hard to replicate in his absence.
Below, see more stellar Armani suits throughout the years.
Photo: Getty Images1/19Diane Keaton
Photo: Getty Images2/19Cate Blanchett
