Work hard, believe in your ideas, then work even harder, and you’ll reach the top. And even if you don’t, you have nothing to worry about. Being true to yourself is the best reward.
My attitude towards work is very simple: complete dedication, absolute stubbornness, and full self-control. I personally approve of everything I do, so I can’t blame anyone if something goes wrong. In my work, everything depends on me, and I believe it shows.
Independence is a burden, but it also means complete freedom. I can’t give it up.
My mother was an elegant woman, sweet and strong at the same time. She influenced my concept of beauty as a harmony of body and spirit, expressiveness, a certain form of elegance – precision.
In my youth, I was fascinated by everything revolving around beauty. It called out to me.
I had planned to become a doctor, but it wasn’t my calling, actually. Perhaps, I would have become a director if I hadn’t become a fashion designer. Cinema is more than just a tool for showcasing style.
The best advice I ever received was from my mother. She said that if you want to create beauty, do only what is necessary and nothing more. The idea that “less is more” is a doctrine that I embraced. It still supports me.
Elegance is intellectual. Stupidity is not.
I was very fascinated by Yves Saint Laurent, and my sister and I visited him in Marrakech when we were little. We were in a run-down van, wearing Bermuda shorts and T-shirts. He opened the door wearing a striped double-breasted jacket, holding a small dog in his arms. He was very kind.
Navy blue is a strict but gentle color. It calms and relaxes me. My uniform is navy blue because it’s my way of saying, “I create clothing and a million other things, so I don’t have time to think too much about my appearance.”
I’m an extremely pragmatic creator: I primarily look at what surrounds me.
I broke the rules of design, but I never aimed to start a revolution. I just followed my instincts. I freed people from uncomfortable cuts while blurring the boundaries between what was considered “men’s” and “women’s” clothing.
An optimistic realist is how I would describe myself. How can a pessimist be a fashion designer? The job is full of risks.
My attitude towards sports dates back to an ancient motto: “A healthy mind in a healthy body.” 30 minutes of exercise every day and healthy eating have a tremendous impact on how I work and think.
Success is not the goal but a stimulus to work better. You can always raise the bar a little higher, which is what I do.
The best piece of clothing is a jacket. It’s versatile and practical. A great platform for pragmatic inventions. The worst piece of clothing is platform sneakers. It’s just a very, very bad idea.
My work has one single purpose: to give women the inner strength that comes when they feel at ease.
What oppresses me is people’s unhappiness.
How social media have shaped the very concept of influence is vastly different from my understanding of it. But I find this phenomenon interesting. It’s as if real life has become completely digital today.
I love cats because they are a mirror of my personality.
When I started, fashion was the main driver of modernity. Now, that baton has passed to social media and technology, and fashion has become entertainment.
I don’t believe in style as a standalone phenomenon. Style is a part of life.
I hate making lists of “best things.”
Fashion is constantly changing, and it encourages never standing still. But changes can also be a trap, as they sometimes lead to mindless inconsistency.
Now we are starting to understand what true luxury is: the freedom to walk outdoors, to travel, to see friends and loved ones.
I fear loneliness. I rarely regret anything in life, but if I had to live my life again, I would strive to spend more time with friends and family.
Any crisis can be an opportunity to learn from your mistakes.
Work hard, believe in your ideas, then work even harder, and you’ll reach the top. And even if you don’t, you have nothing to worry about. Being true to yourself is the best reward.
My main takeaway about myself: Giorgio Armani does everything his own way.
