5 Red Carpet Icons Who Trusted Giorgio Armani With Their Most Memorable Looks
When it comes to red carpet moments that make jaws drop and fashion critics swoon, Giorgio Armani has been the mastermind behind some of Hollywood’s most unforgettable looks. The Italian designer didn’t just dress celebrities; he truly revolutionized how we think about glamour itself. While other designers were busy creating costumes, he understood that stars wanted to look like elevated versions of themselves, not walking billboards.
And while countless celebrities from Anne Hathaway to Austin Butler, to Lady Gaga, have all strutted into the spotlight in his creations, there are a handful whose partnership with the legendary designer became a true red carpet love story and proves that when you want to make a statement that stands the test of time, you call Armani. Let’s dive into the moments when these stars trusted the master with their most important appearances!
Julia Roberts
Before Julia Roberts became America’s sweetheart, she was just another Pretty Woman trying to figure out award show dressing. Her 1990 Golden Globes appearance changed everything. Roberts strutted onto that red carpet in an oversized gray Armani suit that she actually bought off the rack, complete with a patterned tie and her signature voluminous curls (that I am so incredibly jealous of) bouncing with every step.
What made this look revolutionary wasn’t just the androgynous silhouette, oh no, it was Roberts’ confidence wearing it. She matched that suit’s energy with her million-dollar smile, proving that award show power comes from feeling authentically yourself. The look was so iconic that decades later, fashion editors still reference it as the moment suiting became genuinely glamorous for women.
Cate Blanchett
If there’s anyone who understands the assignment when it comes to Armani elegance, it’s Cate Blanchett. The Australian actress has turned to the designer repeatedly throughout her career, creating some of the most breathtaking moments in recent memory. Her 2014 Oscar win for “Blue Jasmine” was made even more memorable by her embellished Armani gown that caught the light like liquid gold.
But here’s what makes Blanchett’s Armani relationship so special: she actually rewears her favorite pieces. That champagne-colored gown she first wore to the 2018 Venice Film Festival? She loved it so much, she brought it back for another Venice appearance six years later. In an industry obsessed with never-been-worn pieces, Blanchett’s approach feels refreshingly sustainable and authentic!
Jodie Foster
Talk about a fashion redemption story. After Foster’s much-criticized 1989 Oscar appearance in that unfortunate periwinkle prom dress, she knew she needed backup for her next Academy Awards moment. Enter Armani, who completely transformed Foster’s carpet game with a show-stopping white tuxedo ensemble in 1992.
The look featured sparkling pants, a crisp tuxedo jacket, and satin gloves that screamed old Hollywood glamour with a modern twist. The Italian designer didn’t try to put Foster in a traditional gown; instead, he created something that felt authentically her while still delivering major red carpet drama! The designer himself admitted he “rescued her from the worst-dressed list,” and their partnership has continued for over the last three decades.
Richard Gere
Before Richard Gere became a red carpet regular, he was busy becoming a style icon on the silver screen. His wardrobe in “American Gigolo” was entirely Armani, featuring the designer’s signature relaxed tailoring and muted color palette that helped define ’80s sophistication. Those perfectly cut suits weren’t just costumes; they were character-defining pieces that launched Gere into sex symbol status.
The film’s impact on menswear can’t be overstated, as Armani’s soft-shouldered jackets and fluid fabrics offered an alternative to the rigid, structured suits that dominated the era. Gere wore these pieces with such natural elegance that men everywhere started seeking out that effortlessly cool aesthetic.
George Clooney
George Clooney and Armani are like red carpet peanut butter and jelly; they just work perfectly together. The actor has been wearing his suits to major events for years, always looking like he just stepped out of a classic Hollywood film! Whether he’s accepting awards or walking red carpets with Amal, Clooney’s looks, done by the fashion designer, never feel try-hard or overly styled.
What sets Clooney’s moments apart is how the clothes seem to disappear, allowing his natural charisma to take center stage. The suits are impeccably tailored but never showy, embodying that Italian sprezzatura that makes everything look effortless even when it’s absolutely not.
Final Thoughts
These five stars (and countless others) prove that Giorgio Armani’s genius lies not in creating attention-grabbing spectacles, but in crafting looks that feel like natural extensions of the wearer’s personality. In a world where red carpet fashion often prioritizes shock value over elegance, his approach feels refreshingly timeless.
The designer revolutionized celebrity dressing by being the first to actively court Hollywood stars, hiring former society journalist Wanda McDaniel to build those crucial relationships. By 1990, so many celebrities wore his designs to the Oscars that Women’s Wear Daily dubbed it “The Armani Awards.” Not bad for a medical school dropout who started in menswear tailoring!
