Giorgio Armani’s Timeless Reign: How One Designer Set Hollywood’s Oscars Ablaze

Hollywood has always been about glamour, but very few names have defined red-carpet style the way Giorgio Armani did. With his passing at the age of 91, the fashion world and the film industry alike are pausing to reflect on a man who transformed not only how stars dressed but how they were perceived on the biggest nights of their lives.

A Red-Carpet Pioneer

When Armani first stepped into the Hollywood spotlight, the Oscars red carpet was dominated by theatrical gowns, sequins, and dramatic silhouettes. Stars often looked more like they were in costume than presenting their authentic selves. Armani, however, brought something radically different: simplicity, tailoring, and confidence.

His breakthrough moment came when Diane Keaton accepted her Oscar for Annie Hall in 1978, wearing an oversized beige blazer that mirrored her character’s understated style. It was unconventional, even risky, but it worked. Armani proved that the red carpet didn’t need to be about excess—it could also be about personality.

The 1990s Takeover

By the early ’90s, Armani had cemented his role as Hollywood’s designer of choice. In fact, the 1990 Academy Awards became known informally as “The Armani Awards” because so many of the winners and presenters chose his creations. Julia Roberts, Michelle Pfeiffer, Jodie Foster, and Jessica Lange all stepped onto the red carpet in his clean, sculpted looks, signaling a shift away from heavy embellishments toward elegant restraint.

Julia Roberts, in particular, embodied Armani’s impact. At the Golden Globes, she famously wore an oversized gray suit with a tie—a bold, menswear-inspired outfit that challenged every convention of feminine red-carpet dressing. When asked why she chose it, Roberts simply said she loved the shape. That statement perfectly captured Armani’s ethos: clothing should empower, not overshadow.

Dressing Hollywood Royalty

For Armani, the red carpet was never just about fashion; it was about storytelling. When Leonardo DiCaprio finally won his long-awaited Oscar in 2016, he did so in a classic Armani tuxedo. Armani himself quipped afterward, “Caprio deserves it. Thank goodness he was wearing Armani.” It was a playful remark, but it underscored a deeper truth—his designs became synonymous with Hollywood triumphs.

Over the decades, Armani dressed countless icons, from actresses seeking a touch of timeless glamour to actors who wanted understated sophistication. Stars like Cate Blanchett repeatedly returned to him for major appearances, drawn to the way his clothes conveyed confidence without screaming for attention.

More Than Just Fashion

What set Armani apart was his deep understanding of Hollywood itself. He came to prominence during the “New Hollywood” era, when authenticity and naturalism were reshaping cinema. His fashion reflected that cultural shift. Where others leaned on sparkle and spectacle, Armani leaned on precision and personal identity. His clothes became extensions of the actors themselves, not costumes they hid behind.

He also blurred the line between fashion and film culture. Armani’s pre-Oscar parties became legendary, bringing together actors, producers, and fellow designers in an atmosphere of exclusivity and quiet elegance. In many ways, he wasn’t just dressing Hollywood—he was part of Hollywood.

A Lasting Legacy

Today, when we think of the Oscars, Armani’s influence is impossible to ignore. The understated tuxedo, the elegantly cut gown, the confidence of a star who looks at ease on one of the most nerve-wracking nights of their career—all of it traces back to his vision.

Giorgio Armani showed the world that true style doesn’t need to shout. It can whisper, and in that whisper, command every eye in the room.

As Hollywood continues to evolve, his imprint will remain. The next time an actor or actress steps onto the Oscars red carpet radiating quiet power, we’ll know who lit that flame decades ago.