Genius founded a style council

GIORGIO Armani was the first designer since Coco Chanel to bring about a lasting change in the way people dress.

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Born in a prewar era of rigid and conservative styles, Armani is best known for his reinvention of the suit, making it feminine and fluid for men and empowering for women. And when he dressed Hollywood heartthrob Richard Gere in 1980's American Gigolo, his signature look became iconic.

Born in Piacenza, northern Italy, his family’s comfortable lifestyle was destroyed by war and his earliest memory was hunger.

The young Giorgio played with unexploded artillery shells in the street, until one suddenly went off. He was severely burned and a close friend was killed.