Giorgio Armani, who is approaching ninety years old, can proudly claim to have built an empire. The fashion house, which includes the labels Giorgio Armani, Emporio Armani, and Armani Jeans, is currently among the most influential fashion designers, businessmen and philanthropists in the world. If the Milanese designer has been changing the fashion landscape since 1974, the house’ style is eternally translated in photography through his friend Aldo Fallai.

The photographic exhibition Aldo Fallai for Giorgio Armani, 1977 – 2021 is on display at Armani/Silos, the Milanese cultural centre of Giorgio Armani, until 11 August, 2024. the chance to find—or rediscover—the fantastic images of the two friends who revolutionised fashion photography.

This retrospective, which consists of 250 images spread across two floors and was curated by Giorgio Armani, his sister Rosanna Armani, and Leo Dell’Orco, Head of the House, chronicles nearly thirty years of continuous artistic exchange between Giorgio Armani and the fashion photographer. These visual works are now legendary and epitomise Armani’s 80s looks.

‘I remember when the first Armani billboards went up. It was the start of a slow revolution of black-and-white fashion imagery in the streets.’ Aldo Fallai said about the catalyst his friend Armani gave him.

The two buddies shuffled the deck when it came to fashion imagery from the beginning of their careers in the 1970s. They are as reminiscent of Mannerist painting as they are of films and late Renaissance artwork. These primarily monochromatic images portray genuine and enduring scenes with gorgeous bodies, classy and simple lines. The pictures are usually portraits, similar to stills from feature films, with an emphasis on the models’ beauty, attitudes and how their attires enhance backgrounds. This retrospective at Armani Silos is a must-see show in 2024 in Milan.

–