THE ARMANI LEGACY

As he celebrates a major anniversary, Giorgio Armani reflects on his always-evolving career.

- BY VÉRONIQUE HYLAND PHOTOGRAPHED BY OLIVIER KERVERN STYLED BY ALEX WHITE

“I’M NOT ONE FOR SELF-CONGRATULATION,” Giorgio Armani says, “but I can’t deny I’m proud to have reached such an important milestone.” The Italian legend is referring to his fashion house hitting the half-century mark this year (he also happens to have recently cleared another personal benchmark: turning 91).

His modesty aside, the fashion world, and particularly the modern-day concept of a “lifestyle brand,” owes a major debt to Armani. As he himself admits, “my vision… extends beyond fashion,” with Armani hotels, residences, restaurants, clubs, and cafés now dotting the globe. The designer compares creating a custom living space to designing couture, “where the encounter between client and creator brings something rare and unique to life.” And he delights in bringing a taste of Italy to the world. (His favorite dish at his nearly year-old restaurant in Manhattan? The risotto alla Milanese, naturalmente.)

His expansive vision extends across the Atlantic, all the way to Hollywood, where he clocked in to the dream factory early on, dressing Richard Gere in American Gigolo, Leonardo DiCaprio in The Wolf of Wall Street, and countless red-carpet stars. (He names Diane Keaton, accepting her