The fashion world suffered a huge loss this week with the passing of Giorgio Armani.

Armani brought power suits into the American fashion realm in the 1980s and has dressed many A Listers on the red carpet.

His mother made most of the families clothes when he was growing up,

Still, he was the envy of his classmates.

He looked wealthy even though his family was poor.

After leaving the army, he found work as a window dresser at the famous Milanese department store, La Rinascente, and was eventually hired in the menswear department as a sales associate.

He trained under Nino Cerruti as a menswear designer. In 1975, along with his friend and business partner Sergio Galeotti, Armani launched his namesake menswear and womenswear line.

Richard Gere sported an array of soft gray Armani suits in the movie American Gigolo in 1980.

Ten years later, Julia Roberts accepted her Golden Globes award in a charcoal two-piece of his design.

Her iconic outfit popularized androgynous dressing for women everywhere. Armani has said of his approach: “I was the first to soften the image of men and harden the image of women. I dressed men in women’s fabrics, and stole from men what women wanted and needed—the power suit.”

In 2005 armani added couture to his collections.

Up until his death at age 91 this week, he remained sole shareholder of the Armani company.

He brought tailoring and elevating red carpet looks for men and women alike