Nicole Kidman arrives for the 90th Annual Academy Awards in 2018.VALERIE MACON/Getty Images
We take it for granted that awards show red carpets are as much about fashion as film or TV or music. But long before every premiere or party became a parade of designer names, and the question “who are you wearing?” elicited a brand plug, Giorgio Armani saw an opening to boost his slouchy take on tailored clothing.
The Italian designer, who died on Sept. 4 at age 91, is credited with creating the sartorial star system that helps keep the lights on in New York, London, Milan and Paris.
Starting in 1978, when Diane Keaton accepted her Oscar for Annie Hall, through American Gigolo-era Richard Gere, Julia Roberts and Jodie Foster in the 1990s and Cate Blanchett at the 2025 Venice International Film Festival, Armani has been the thinking celebrity’s go-to label.
