This year, on 11 July, designer and head of the fashion house Giorgio Armani turns 91. On the legendary Italian’s birthday, Radio Maximum recalls his iconic statements about fashion and life.
Giorgio Armani’s statements on haute couture
1. “To be elegant doesn’t mean to catch the eye, it means to stick in the memory”.
2. “Don’t be overzealous in your choice of clothes: the most stylish people look like they put no effort into their own appearance. Style ultimately comes down to self-expression, and I don’t think anything can look really awful on someone who is genuine with themselves.”
3. “Fashion can’t be the subject of media scandals. We have to evolve and excite, but not epathetic – that’s too much.”
4. “The value of accessories is on the rise these days, so invest in shoes, belts, bags, ties and more. Then you’ll be able to update your outfit over and over again.”
5. “A carefully chosen fragrance can be your distinguishing feature. It’s the first thing people smell when you enter a room and the last thing that disappears when you leave.”
6. “A cheap pair of shoes is misplaced economy. Shoes are the foundation of your wardrobe.”
7. “Looking sexy is a matter of confidence.”
8. “A watch is one of the most important things you will buy. A watch says a lot about a person.”
9. “Choose fabrics in neutral colours, without bright patterns – they will last you longer.”
10. “The difference between style and fashion is quality.”
Giorgio Armani Quotes About Life
1. “This is the problem with the modern world: nobody wants to take risks, to risk being themselves.”
2. “The real luxury is to say what you think.”
3. “The more successful I become, the more I want to stay as I am, with my flaws and insecurities.”
4. “A homosexual male is 100 per cent male. He doesn’t need to dress like a homosexual man.”
5. “To create something exceptional, your thinking must be constantly focused on the smallest details.”
6. “What is the secret to my youth? It’s partly heredity. My mother died at 90 and looked 65 by then. I hope it will be the same for me. But it’s also about self-discipline: don’t stay up too late, don’t drink too much, don’t smoke. And also understand yourself and treat your own inner self properly.”
7. “Remember how Mick Jagger sang,” You can’t always get what you want “? Yeah, I’d like to be tall and have a big nose. Accept what you have been given and don’t give up. Don’t waste your life trying to change something that can’t be changed, don’t dwell on it.”
8. “I am not afraid of economic crises. On the contrary, this is the time when it makes sense to take the risk of reaping the rewards in stable times.”
9. “My biggest fear? The need to make hasty decisions.”
10. “I don’t like talking about the past and nostalgia. How do I avoid that? Talking to young people.”