In this article, we’ll guide you through the precise distinctions between Armani and Giorgio Armani, a common source of confusion for gentlemen seeking to invest in luxury apparel.
Understanding the Armani Brand
Armani represents the entire fashion house founded by Giorgio Armani and Sergio Galeotti in 1975, encompassing multiple distinct labels and price points.
Giorgio Armani, the visionary Italian designer, created a segmented approach to luxury fashion, establishing different labels to serve distinct market segments whilst maintaining the brand’s prestigious reputation.
The creation of separate Armani labels stems from a strategic business decision made in the 1980s to capture different market segments without diluting the main Giorgio Armani line’s exclusivity.
In 2017, Armani streamlined the brand hierarchy, consolidating Armani Collezioni and Armani Jeans into Emporio Armani to create clearer brand differentiation.
The Complete Brand Hierarchy
Armani Privé sits at the apex as the haute couture line, offering made-to-order pieces for elite clientele.
Giorgio Armani follows as the primary luxury ready-to-wear line, representing the designer’s main vision for luxury fashion.
Emporio Armani serves as the bridge line, offering contemporary luxury at more accessible price points.
Armani Exchange completes the hierarchy as the most accessible entry point into the Armani world.
Giorgio Armani – The Pinnacle of Ready-to-Wear Luxury
Giorgio Armani stands as the flagship label, with designs personally overseen by Giorgio Armani himself.
A Giorgio Armani suit, handcrafted in Italy, typically ranges from £1,000 to £5,000, positioning the label firmly in the ultra-luxury segment alongside Brioni and Tom Ford.
Giorgio Armani maintains exclusivity through limited distribution in 95 boutiques worldwide and select luxury department stores.
The target clientele consists primarily of wealthy entrepreneurs and established professionals aged 35-50, seeking understated luxury and impeccable craftsmanship.
Design and Style Distinctions
Giorgio Armani pieces feature classic, timeless designs with sophisticated minimalism and superior structured tailoring.
Emporio Armani adopts a more contemporary, trend-conscious approach while maintaining the distinctive Armani DNA.
Giorgio Armani garments feature superior materials, including exclusive Italian fabrics and hand-finished details, justifying the premium pricing.
Emporio Armani utilises quality materials but employs more mechanised production methods, resulting in a lower price point whilst maintaining respectable quality standards.
Distribution and Market Positioning
Giorgio Armani products are exclusively available in specialised designer stores and Giorgio Armani boutiques, maintaining strict distribution control.
Emporio Armani operates through 270 stores in 31 countries, making the label more accessible to aspirational luxury consumers.
The manufacturing location serves as a key differentiator – Giorgio Armani produces exclusively in Italy, while Emporio Armani and Armani Exchange often manufacture in other countries.
Expert Guide to Buying Armani
For formal occasions and business attire where impressions matter significantly, Giorgio Armani represents the optimal choice, particularly for bespoke suits and evening wear.
Emporio Armani offers excellent value for smart-casual pieces and business attire, particularly for younger professionals building a luxury wardrobe.
When investing in Giorgio Armani pieces, purchase from authorised boutiques only, as the secondary market often contains counterfeits.
Examine the label carefully – genuine Giorgio Armani pieces feature a black label with ‘Giorgio Armani’ in grey or white text, while Emporio Armani uses a grey label with distinctive logo.
Consider the longevity of your investment – Giorgio Armani pieces, while significantly more expensive, tend to retain value and relevance far longer than the diffusion lines.
Style Like a True Gentleman
Before we say goodbye, here’s one of the best-kept secrets in men’s styling circles, a secret that only a few expert image consultants know or are willing to share.
First and foremost, professional styling requires knowing your unique body shape and seasonal colour palette – paramount factors in choosing perfectly fitting clothes in colours that complement your skin, eyes, and hair.
Only then can a stylist engage in styling by occasion, location, season, and time of day, with garments, footwear, and accessories from stylistically relevant, heritage fashion brands to depict high confidence and success.
Best part? You can find your body shape, seasonal colour palette, and ideal fashion style, in less than 5 minutes, by yourself, for free, thanks to our 4 simple steps:
1. Find Your Body Shape
Different garments flatter different silhouettes, so knowing your body shape is the first step in dressing like a confident man.
To find out your unique body shape, take our free body shape quiz for men.
Once you know your unique body shape, take the second free quiz to discover your unique colour palette.
2. Find Your Unique Colour Palette
Remember, the garments that compose your outfits come in various colours and you have to make sure that each hue complements your natural colour.
For that, you have to find out your seasonal colour palette, and you can do it by taking our free seasonal colour quiz for men.
3. Find Your Ideal Fashion Style
By now, you should already know your body shape and unique colour palette; the next step is to discover your ideal personal fashion style.
The fastest and simplest way is to take our free fashion style quiz for men; it includes your ideal style, outfit ideas, relevant fashion brands, and much more.
4. Professional Image Consultancy with The VOU
And if you want to style like a professional, by occasion, location, season, and time of the day, you can always ask our expert image consultants and fashion stylists for help.
Our styling services for men are the most comprehensive and detailed on the market, backed up by leading stylists who will guide you step by step in creating looks that communicate affluence, elegance, and endless accomplishments.
Remember, wearing luxury brands isn’t enough; to look stylish, confident, and successful, you must first know your body shape, colour palette, and ideal personal style, and only then style by occasion, location, season, and time of day.
Contact us today to save headaches, time, and money – it’s time to dress like a confident, successful gentleman of exquisite fashion taste –Â the first styling assessment is on us!