In photos: Celebrating Giorgio Armani at 90

On the day of Mr Armani’s 90th Birthday we mark this special day with a collection of rarely seen images from his life.

These are timeless thoughts, as narrated by the voice of renowned and multi-awarded Italian actor Pierfrancesco Favino.

Giorgio Armani's language evolves relentlessly, whilst staying firm in its roots.It is the result of a process of subtraction, which captures time and sublimates it, creating fashion that goes beyond fashion.

Mr Armani working on a fashion show, always focusing on the details. A legacy of coherence that transcends eras.

Mr Armani working behind the scenes, immersed in his world of fashion.

Mr Armani’s relationship with the art of film making is a long standing one. His love of the moving image and recognition of its power started early in his lifetime when visiting the town cinema in Piacenza with his family. Once Mr Armani established his business and his own art he immediately started to support and collaborate with the film industry by designing costumes for films such as “American Gigolo” and most recently “Don’t Look Up”, as well as dressing leaders in the industry on and off the red carpet.

“Cinema is a form of magic that's hard to resist. I have often wondered what my life would have been without films. Surely, I would not have become the man and designer that I am today.” Giorgio Armani

Mr Armani has a special affinity to the world of music and entertainment and occasionally takes to the decks at Armani / Privē, like pictured above at a special event.

A world of contrasts: internationally renowned, yet reserved, quietly elegant style with a hint of eccentricity, quintessentially italian, yet inspired by the cutures of the Far East, a creative force with unparallelled discipline. But there is only one person that can define Giorgio Armani – the man himself. Through ‘The Giorgio Armani Lexicon’ gain an insight into who Giorgio Armani really is, in his own words.

A photograph taken by Paul Schrader in 1978 during a fitting with Giorgio Armani and John Travolta, who was originally cast at the protagonist of American Gigolo. Due to a scheduling conflict, Travolta pulled out and Richard Gere stepped in… and the rest is fashion / movie history.

The Giorgio Armani Lexicon: Androgyny

“I owe my beginnings in the fashion adventure to the trouser suit with a masculine cut, with an ambivalent and subtly androgynous charm. Perfect now as then, also because I've never stopped reinterpreting it to make it always a manifestation of the spirit of the times.

The trouser suit is the perfect, versatile piece, which creates a presence and confidence without camouflage, and for this reason gives a feeling of security. It suits all women and very many occasions, from the office to the red carpet.” – Giorgio Armani