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The former Tottenham midfielder is not convinced that a raid needs to be launched on Crystal Palace, but is looking for big money to be invested

Tottenham need to be spending upwards of £100 million ($130m) this summer, says Jamie O’Hara, but Crystal Palace winger Wilfried Zaha should not be among those on their wish list.

An Ivory Coast international on the books of a London rival is among those to have been linked with a big-money move to Spurs.

O’Hara concedes that the 26-year-old is a fine player, and one proven in the Premier League, but feels Mauricio Pochettino already has enough options in wide attacking areas.

The former Spurs midfielder told Love Sport Radio of the links to a prized asset at Palace: “Zaha is a fantastic player and a great prospect but I think Tottenham need to be looking at someone now who is going to change that team and add to that team.

“Does Zaha start in front of [Lucas] Moura or [Christian] Eriksen or Son? I don’t think so.

“I think they need to really strengthen in midfield. I’d like to see them sign a world-class midfielder. That’s the first thing Tottenham need to do.

“They need a couple but I’d like to see them go for someone special just to say ‘we’ve arrived now, we’ve got our stadium, this is what we’re thinking and this is where we’re going’. They don’t need to sign bit-part players.”

Spurs made no additions to their ranks over the summer of 2018 or during the most recent winter window.

The focus then was on pumping funds into the newly-constructed Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

With that venue now open and Pochettino’s side chasing down a top-four finish and Champions League glory, O’Hara is looking for a show of ambition to be made on the field.

He added when asked what Spurs need to be investing: “If you want to compete and contend at the top for the title, you have to spend. That’s just the way it is. World-class players cost money.

“Tottenham have done unbelievably in terms of not signing anyone and still competing – but they haven’t won a trophy.

“If they really want to stay competing with the Man City’s and Liverpool’s, then they need to spend £100m.

“I think they need two and if you can’t get two world-class players for £100m, then the game really has gone mad.”

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The Dutch legend has pointed to the lack of the Argentine superstar as the primary cause of the Manchester City manager’s Champions League slump

Ruud Gullit believes he has pinpointed where Pep Guardiola’s struggles in the Champions League have come from since the Spanish manager left Barcelona.  

Guardiola won Europe’s top prize twice with the Spanish giants, first in the 2008-09 season and again during the 2010-11 campaign.  

He has yet to win the competition since leaving the club, despite managing Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich before taking over at Manchester City, having reached the semi-finals of the competition on multiple occasions with the German side.  

The 48-year-old has failed to get Manchester City into the last four during his time in charge of the English side, with Wednesday’s failure against Tottenham the second year in a row he’s seen his side knocked out at the quarter-final stage by a domestic rival.  

And Dutch legend Gullit has pointed to the lack of superstar Lionel Messi as the real reason why Guardiola has failed to reach the heights he got to while managing the Argentine. 

“It’s because he doesn’t have Messi,” Gullit said on beIN SPORTS. “That makes a huge difference.   

“He tried to do it with Bayern Munich. He was close every time, but he couldn’t do it.  

“Winning the [Bundesliga] championship in Munich is not an achievement anymore because they win it almost every year.   

“And I know that Pep, this is what he wants. He wants the Champions League and I feel sorry for him.” 

Gullit also pointed to the fact that Guardiola’s team with Barcelona was not built by the manager, and had already seen Messi make his mark. 

“Of course when he was with Barcelona he had an unbelievable team inherited from [Frank] Rijkaard, who Messi had already made his debut under,” he said. “And then Messi became even more important. And Messi was vital in a lot of games for him when he was with Barcelona.”

And the former LA Galaxy boss says that money alone isn’t enough to put together a Champions League winner. 

“You can’t buy a team to do it,” he continued. “That’s what it is. And I really feel for him. I see this passion and I see what motivates him, and this is a huge blow for this team.”  

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Top Rebels trio return for Crusaders clash

September 19, 2019 | News | No Comments

Nic Stirzaker, Tom English and Sefa Naivalu headline five changes to the Rebels starting XV that will take on the Crusaders.

Tony McGahan has rolled out an injury depleted outfit all season but this looks to be one of his strongest.

Stirzaker, English and Naivalu all add experience and a touch of class that was severely lacking in those departments against the Waratahs.

The inclusion of Colby Fainga’a has triggered the other changes, as Lopeti Timani shifts to the second row to make room for the flanker.

Culum Retallick will start on the bench as a result of Timani’s positional change.

TEAM

1. Toby Smith

2. James Hanson

3. Tyrel Lomax

4. Steve Cummins

5. Lopeti Timani

6. Sean McMahon

7. Colby Fainga’a

8. Amanaki Mafi

9. Nic Stirzaker (C)

10. Jackson Garden-Bachop

11. Marika Koroibete

12. Reece Hodge

13. Tom English

14. Sefa Naivalu

15. Ben Volavola

Reserves

16. Siliva Siliva

17. Fereti Sa’aga

18. Laurie Weeks

19. Culum Retallick

20. Hugh Sinclair

21. Ben Meehan

22. Mitch Inman

23. Jonah Placid

 

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We’re back to business in Super Rugby this weekend, but there’s been a few light moments as well.

What have you missed in rugby this week?

Tui takes us back in time

It’s rare that anyone gets to meet their idol on and off the field but that’s exactly what happened to Lukhan Tui this weekend.

The Reds and Wallabies forward shared a post on Twitter this weekend, with a snap from 2008 and one from 2018.

His first was from when, as a then-Blues fan, Tui met Blues star Jerome Kaino on  the sideline, getting a photo with his hero.

On Friday night, the pair went head-to-head at Eden Park in Kaino’s farewell home game and they grabbed another pic.

Apart from making plenty of viewers feel their age, the post was also a reminder that you never know when or where you might meet your heroes.

MLR to reach conclusion

The USA’s Major League Rugby is set for its first champion, with Seattle taking on the Glendale Raptors.

Both sides were victorious in their semi-finals, with the first winner to be crowned next weekend.

The Raptors include former Aussie Sevens player Sam Figg in their ranks, with a number of internationals playing in the competition.

Robertson goes peak cauliflower

There were quite a few spectators cringing at sight of Tom Robertson in Friday night’s derby, with the prop sporting a new addition on the sideline. 

Robertson was sporting a particularly vicious cauliflower ear after some tough scrummaging efforts, and it was enough to make even the hardened a bit squirmish.

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All part of the rugby parcel, we guess. 

Naisarani going south

The newest addition to rugby’s worst-kept secrets is here – Isi Naisarani is going to the Rebels in 2019.

Melbourne will be farewelling Amanaki Mafi next season, with the Japan international returning north ahead of the Rugby World Cup.

The Brumbies have a glut of backrowers in their ranks, opening up an opportunity for Naisarani to move.

Ronas’ welcome new addition

Congratulations to Wallabies and Waratahs centre Curtis Rona and his wife Jacinta, who welcomed their second child, Ezekiel, this week.

Rona missed Waratahs training to be with his family, before flying to Melbourne to feature in the Waratahs’ win over the Rebels.

Front rowers find their sound

Props sometimes get a bad rap in the cultural stakes, but Melbourne Rebels prop Fereti Saaga showed a musical side in the Melbourne CBD this week.

Saaga played a tune on a grand piano, following up a performance at the club’s Test lunch last week.

He’s not the only prop to show his musical talent, though, with the Waratahs’ Harry Johnson-Holmes a well-known singer.

Johnson-Holmes showed off his vocal chords at a Christmas hospital visit last year, booming out a version of Felis Navidad.

Who do you rate as the better musical talent?

State rugby goes bush

It was a big weekend for rugby in the country in Queensland and New South Wales.

The Shute Shield took a match to Cowra –  a thriller between Eastwood and Norths – continuing an important initiative of taking matches beyond the Sydney city limits. 

Meanwhile, in Queensland, it was the Queensland Country Heelers taking on the NSW Country in Goondiwindi.

The Heelers took out both the colts and senior matches, 21–19 and 22-12, respectively.

NRL star a rugby VIP

Keen spectators in the Sydney Test might have noticed one big-name rugby league star rubbing shoulders with the VIPs at Allianz Stadium.

Don’t be expecting any code-switching anytime soon, but it was certainly interesting to hear of some cross-code relations.

Kerevi keen to increase playmaking load

September 19, 2019 | News | No Comments

Samu Kerevi and the Reds will fight fire with fire on Saturday, eager to get the ball in the hands of outside backs starved of the ball over the past month.

The Lions are capable of some of the most exhilarating rugby in the competition but the Reds, to date, have played football in stark contrast to their opposition on Saturday.

No team has scored less tries to date this season and while Kerevi has thrived with the extra ball he is getting his hands on at inside centre, the removal of Duncan Paia’aua from the starting XV has limited the impact of those playing on the fringes.

Izaia Perese has subsequently lost his starting spot as coach Brad Thorn searches for fresh spark in the form of Jordan Petaia and Kerevi is well aware of the attacking burden he must carry now regular playmaker Jono Lance is out of the clash with the Lions, too.“We’ve spoken about that this week, getting (the wingers) more of the ball,” Kerevi said.

Aidan (Toua) coming into the line – we can all contribute in getting the ball out there.”

Kerevi will need to play more of a playmaking hand in order to do that but the large majority of the attacking burden will fall on the shoulders of young gun Hamish Stewart, who will make his first start of the season in place of Lance.

Jono is a massive loss for us but Hamish coming in, he’s young but we trust in his ability,” Kerevi said.

“He doesn’t shy away from contact and that’s a good thing for us.

“Defensively, we trust that he can make his tackles.

“Our halves are there to control the game and it’s obviously a step up from NRC – with Hamish not starting much for us – so for him to get the nod we know Thorny is backing him and the rest of the team does as well.”

While putting more points on the board is a necessity, improving the defensive errors which cost Queensland any chance of going with the Chiefs is also on the agenda.

“Our work rate needs to be better and we have all addressed that,” Kerevi said.

“The Chiefs played around the corner pretty well and we didn’t work hard enough to get there.

“We need to get that edge about us in defence.”

The Reds will all wear club or school socks on Saturday, a brilliant nod to the grassroots foundation upon which all careers are built.

I think it’s awesome to really showcase where we’ve come through, how we’ve come through,” Kerevi said.

“Obviously everyone comes through school and club and this weekend, I’m really excited to wear the Brisbane State High socks along with a few other boys.

“We’re excited to showcase that and I think it’s important.

“Grass roots rugby is where we all came from and it’s a really good initiative from Queensland for us to be able to wear the socks.”

The Reds host the Lions at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday, kicking off at 3pm AEST, broadcast LIVE on FOX SPORTS and RUGBY.com.au radio.

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Stade Francais announce Naivalu signing

September 19, 2019 | News | No Comments

Sefa Naivalu is heading for Paris on a three-year deal with French giants Stade Francais announcing the deal on Thursday morning.

Ten-Test winger Naivalu, who has played for the Rebels and Reds in Super Rugby, will arrive in the Paris capital after this year’s World Cup, planning to stay there through to 2022.

Stade Francais announced the contract on Twitter on Thursday morning.

The English translation of the tweet reads: “The Club is proud to announce the signature of the international winger Sefanaia naivalu for 3 seasons in the capital! Welcome to Paris Sefa ⚡⚡⚡ .”

The news will not come as a major shock, with speculation of Naivalu’s post-World Cup departure reported last month.

Naivalu joins Nick Phipps, Curtis Rona, Sam Carter among the capped Wallabies set to head overseas after this year’s Japan tournament.

 

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Reds v Crusaders: Five things we learned

September 19, 2019 | News | No Comments

The Reds have lost 22-12 to the Crusaders at Suncorp Stadium as the Super Rugby champions extend their record-breaking unbeaten run to 18 matches.

Here are the talking points from the match.

1. The Crusaders are on a level of their own

Plenty was expected from the Reds after their fighting efforts against the Highlanders in their round two season-opener in Dunedin, with many expecting they would push the Crusaders at Suncorp Stadium.

But they were left chasing their tails from the kick-off, with the visitors posting two tries in the opening 10 minutes.

Brad Thorn’s team did well to prevent a blowout from there but never threatened to win and need to find greater consistency if they are to continue to improve.

2. Handling errors and turnovers killed Reds’ chances

The Reds have a no excuses policy this season and will not blame the intermittent rain and a wet ball for the handling errors that cruelled their chances of competing.

One of the most frustrating things for the home side was their inability to put real pressure on the Crusaders because of a lack of possession.

When they did manage to string phases together the Reds posed a threat. But simple turnovers, pushed passes land another poor kicking game left them unable to show play at the level their hard-won fitness and tactical  nous will allow them to when they finally hold on to the pill. 

3. Will key players be available for Waratahs clash?

He was the name on everyone’s lips after their season-opener after his sparkling performance in the centres but Jordan Petaia was the focus for a different reason on Saturday night after limping off Suncorp Stadium inside the first 20 minutes with a foot injury.

After twisting his foot and ankle awkwardly when taking the ball up early in the match, Petaia spent the remainder of the first half icing his foot on the sidelines before reappearing in a moon boot in the second term.

Thorn said the extent of the injury was not yet known but the boom colt looks an unlikely starter for the Waratahs clash, while fullback Bryce Hegarty played more than 40 minutes with a popped rib and could also be in doubt.

4. In forwards we trust

Captain Samu Kerevi showed the faith he has in his forwards when opting against a kick at goal from a penalty late in the first half, instead putting the ball into touch and relying on his men to win a lineout that eventually led to a try that kept the Reds in the contest at halftime.

It’s the type of move Reds fans can expect to see often this season, with Kerevi saying after the match he not only trusted the ability of his forwards to win the ball but believed fans deserve an attractive style of play. 

5. Reds scrum still a work in progress

The Reds highly regarded scrum was taught a lesson by a Crusaders pack including All Black front rowers Joe Moody and Owen Franks but Thorn hopes it will prove aspirational to his forwards.

Thorn wants his men exposed to the best in the business and hopes the likes of loosehead prop Feao Fotuaika, who performed so strongly on debut against the Highlanders, will take plenty from the experience.

JP Smith performed strongly in his return from a knee injury and could come into calculation for a starting spot against the Waratahs next week.

Thorn slams door on Cooper, race for Folau heats up

September 19, 2019 | News | No Comments

Israel Folau would fit right in at the Reds, should the off contract superstar decide to take his talents north.

That’s the view of Queensland flyhalf Jono Lance, who played alongside Folau during the Waratahs’ 2014 run to the top of Super Rugby.

Speaking at Brisbane Airport prior to the Reds setting sail for Tokyo, Lance said Folau would fit right in at Ballymore.

“I’ve played with Izzy – he’s a pretty exciting player and I don’t think anyone needs proof he is on the footy field,” Lance said.

“He’s a great teammate, the way he works with the younger guys, how he goes about taking advice from someone.

“To be a world class player and be happy to take advice from some of the younger guys – I think that’s pretty impressive.”While Lance said there had been no internal chatter between players regarding the potential of playing alongside Folau, it’s understood Reds coach Brad Thorn and the star fullback have discussed a potential move.

Cap space is another matter for Queensland to consider, as they currently have a substantially chunk of their cap tied up by two players who appear unlikely to ever pull on the Reds jersey again.

Karmichael Hunt has been barred from playing club football while Rugby Australia and the QRU search for an overseas home for his services but Quade Cooper appears determined to remain in Queensland.

That’s despite this comment from Reds coach Brad Thorn, in the wake of news Cooper has knocked back midseason approaches from both the Rebels and Brumbies.

“If there was an opportunity for Quade at another Super Rugby club, we wouldn’t stand in his way.”

The Reds would hold the door open for the mercurial playmaker if he was to walk, though it’s understood offloading both Cooper and Hunt’s salary isn’t a necessity in the race for Folau’s signature – which will fetch close to $1.5 million per year.

While the QRU is yet to shake the Cooper headache, they appear to have found their next star flyhalf in Hamish Stewart.

Lance may be Thorn’s man for the remainder of the season but Stewart has all the skills required to be an elite flyhalf for the next decade, considering he is only 20 years of age.

A possible shift to fullback for the clash with the Sunwolves is on the cards, such is the desire to keep Stewart in the starting XV.

“I was pretty excited with how Hamish went in the game against the Bulls,” Lance said.

“He’s doing things that I wasn’t doing when I was 19 so I’m definitely working with him as the week goes on in whatever that position is.

“Whether that’s working at five-eighth – whatever it is – I’m really excited about where he’s heading and the kind of guy he is.”

The Reds face the Sunwolves in Tokyo on Saturday, kicking off at 1pm AEST, broadcast LIVE on FOX SPORTS.

Pictured above: Emmanuelle Alt, Edward Enninful, Romeo Beckham, Brooklyn Beckham, Cruz Beckham, Harper Beckham, David Beckham and Anna Wintour sitting front row at the Victoria Beckham spring/summer 2020 show. Image credit: courtesy of Victoria Beckham.

With New York Fashion Week—the first of the ‘Big Four’ fashion weeks—now done and dusted, our attention has already drifted across the Atlantic to London as it kicked off its own fashion week schedule last week.

And while it is the shortest of the weeks that takes place during fashion month, the runsheet for London’s runway offering is anything but slim, with designers including Burberry, Victoria Beckham, Erdem, Christopher Kane and Emilia Wickstead continuing to call the capital city their fashion home—and, of course, they’ve left absolutely no room for disappointment this season.

Memorable moments have already presented themselves in the form of Kendall Jenner’s rare appearance—as a blonde, no less—at Burberry’s show, along with Agyness Deyn’s return to the runway at the very same show, and Naomi Campbell’s naked dress moment at her first Fashion for Relief event in her native London, and we’re almost certain many moments are still to come.

Of course, when it comes to front row figures, London Fashion Week presents a slightly different look—not only sartorially, with the climate demanding clothing that covers slightly more—but also when it comes to guest lists, with royals and noble figures mingling amongst the celebrities and influencers who typically attend shows.

With stand-out looks already including the dapper Beckham boys—and one ultra-adorable Harper Beckham—sitting front row at matriarch Victoria Beckham’s runway show, Billy Porter donning a silk headscarf and neon orange flares, and Lottie Moss’s mirrored crop and pant combo, we’re eagerly waiting what other notable looks will come across our horizon over the week.

To see our round-up of the front row fashion moments from London Fashion Week spring/summer 2020, scroll on.

Dua Lipa and Anwar Hadid at the Burberry spring/summer 2020 show. Image credit: Getty Images.

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Sonny Hall and Iris Law at the JW Anderson spring/summer 2020 show. Image credit: Getty Images.

Christina Aguilera at the Christopher Kane spring/summer 2020 show. Image credit: Getty Images.

Maisie Williams at the Christopher Kane spring/summer 2020 show. Image credit: Getty Images.

Billy Porter at the JW Anderson spring/summer 2020 show. Image credit: Getty Images.

Joan Smalls, Lily Aldridge and Derek Blasberg at the Burberry spring/summer 2020 show. Image credit: Getty Images.

Sabrina Elba at the Victoria Beckham spring/summer 2020 show. Image credit: courtesy of Victoria Beckham.

Lottie Moss at the David Koma spring/summer 2020 show. Image credit: Getty Images.

Lady Kitty Spencer at the Roland Mouret spring/summer 2020 show. Image credit: Getty Images.

Helen Mirren, Karen Elson and Sinead Burke at the Victoria Beckham spring/summer 2020 show. Image credit: courtesy of Victoria Beckham.

Tuppence Middleton at the Erdem spring/summer 2020 show. Image credit: Getty Images.

Alexa Chung at the Fashion for Relief London 2019 show. Image credit: Getty Images.

Billy Porter at the Victoria Beckham spring/summer 2020 show. Image credit: courtesy of Victoria Beckham.

Lady Mary Charteris and Abbey Clancy at the David Koma spring/summer 2020 show. Image credit: Getty Images.

Paris Brosnan and Pierce Brosnan at the Fashion for Relief London 2019 show. Image credit: Getty Images.

Daisy Lowe at the Roland Mouret spring/summer 2020 show. Image credit: Getty Images.

Taron Egerton at the Burberry spring/summer 2020 show. Image credit: Getty Images.

Pixie Geldof at the Ports 1961 spring/summer 2020 show. Image credit: Getty Images.

Billy Porter at the Erdem spring/summer 2020 show. Image credit: Getty Images.

Naomi Scott at the Burberry spring/summer 2020 show. Image credit: courtesy of Burberry.

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Pixie Geldof, Derek Blasberg and Daisy Lowe at the Christopher Kane spring/summer 2020 show. Image credit: Getty Images.

Adwoa Aboah at the Molly Goddard spring/summer 2020 show. Image credit: courtesy of Molly Goddard.

Maisie Williams at the JW Anderson spring/summer 2020 show. Image credit: Getty Images.

Carla Bruni at the Burberry spring/summer 2020 show. Image credit: Getty Images.

Iris Law at the Fashion for Relief London 2019 show. Image credit: Getty Images.

Jorja Smith at the Burberry spring/summer 2020 show. Image credit: Getty Images.

Daisy Lowe, Pixie Geldof, Camille Charriere and Caroline Flack at the Christopher Kane spring/summer 2020 show. Image credit: Getty Images.

Christina Aguilera at the JW Anderson spring/summer 2020 show. Image credit: Getty Images.

Hunter Schafer at the Burberry spring/summer 2020 show. Image credit: Getty Images.

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Anna Vitello at the David Koma spring/summer 2020 show. Image credit: Getty Images.

British Vogue editor-in-chief, Edward Enninful, and Naomi Campbell at the Burberry spring/summer 2020 show. Image credit: Getty Images.

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Isabelle Huppert at the Burberry spring/summer 2020 show. Image credit: Getty Images.

Daisy Lowe at the Erdem spring/summer 2020 show. Image credit: Getty Images.

Veronika Heilbrunner at the JW Anderson spring/summer 2020 show. Image credit: Getty Images.

Xenia Adonts at the Erdem spring/summer 2020 show. Image credit: Getty Images.

Julia Restoin Roitfeld at the Burberry spring/summer 2020 show. Image credit: Getty Images.

Lucy Williams at the JW Anderson spring/summer 2020 show. Image credit: Getty Images.

FKA Twigs at the Burberry spring/summer 2020 show. Image credit: Getty Images.

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Isabeli Fontana at the Burberry spring/summer 2020 show. Image credit: courtesy of Burberry.

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Susie Lau at the Victoria Beckham spring/summer 2020 show. Image credit: courtesy of Victoria Beckham.

Yasmin Sewell at the JW Anderson spring/summer 2020 show. Image credit: Getty Images.

Maya Jama at the Christopher Kane spring/summer 2020 show. Image credit: Getty Images.

Veronika Heilbrunner at the Victoria Beckham spring/summer 2020 show. Image credit: courtesy of Victoria Beckham.

Bel Powley at the JW Anderson spring/summer 2020 show. Image credit: Getty Images.

Sophia Hadjipanteli at the Roland Mouret spring/summer 2020 show. Image credit: Getty Images.

Blanca Miro at the JW Anderson spring/summer 2020 show. Image credit: Getty Images.

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Image credit: courtesy of Giorgio Armani

There aren’t many designers who are recognised in every single part of the world. Giorgio Armani, however, is exactly that. Ask anyone, chances are that they’ll not only know of Armani himself, but be able to picture one his perfectly tailored suits, his love of good-taste ‘greige’ or his countless Hollywood moments. That kind of global star power is rare in fashion, especially for a house that is still owned and operated by its founder. And yet Mr Armani — as he is always referred to; never just Giorgio — has built one of the world’s largest independently-owned fashion empires, which, at the age of 85, he still personally oversees. 

It couldn’t be more well deserved, then, that this December, Armani will be honoured at The Fashion Awards with the Outstanding Achievement Award. Right from the start, Armani shifted the conversation around tailoring and shaped the look of the late 20th century. He ushered in a new era of softer, more unstructured and most significantly, lighter suiting. In doing so, he became the architect of modern masculinity, a go-to for a new kind of man. He did just as much for women, too, using menswear fabrics to create a powerful uniform — the relaxed, minimalist trouser suit. Armani is the designer who blazed the trail for those such as Calvin Klein, Donna Karan and Jil Sander.

He was a pioneer when it came to establishing a relationship with Hollywood, too, placing dedicated publicists and celebrity liaisons in his Rodeo Drive boutique early on. In 1980, he dressed Richard Gere for the film , with every scene choreographed to work for Armani’s clothes, prompting Gere to ask, “Who’s acting in this scene, me or the jacket?”. Since then, his designs have appeared in more than 200 films, and have been worn by a constellation of megawatt stars, long before red-carpet dressing became industrialised. Back then, it was Diane Keaton, Jodie Foster and Michelle Pfeiffer in Armani. Today, it’s the likes of Cate Blanchett, Celine Dion, Alicia Keys and Elizabeth Debicki. 

Armani’s central tenets of classicism, style over fashion, Italian craftsmanship and ease have endured. In 1975, he sold his Volkswagen Beetle to set up the brand. The first year of business saw sales total US$14,000 and within a decade, they were topping US$100 million. Today, Armani has an annual turnover of around US$2 billion; and the empire spans every layer of the product pyramid, from the crescendo of Armani Privé haute couture to Giorgio Armani ready-to-wear tailoring, Armani Exchange jeans, Armani/Casa furnishings, Armani hotels, Armani cosmetics… The list goes on, but each product is distinctive for that signature Armani simplicity.

In a rare interview, speaks to Armani about the secrets to his success and navigating an ever changing fashion industry.

Image credit: courtesy of Giorgio Armani

Congratulations on receiving the Outstanding Achievement Award at the 2019 Fashion Awards. When you look back over your career, what are you most proud of and why?
“Having created a style that everybody immediately identifies as mine is certainly an accomplishment, and something that makes me extremely proud. I have worked hard all my life in order to build something true, substantial and enduring. I liberated men and women from many constrictions, turning into the sartorial companion of an epochal change. The fact that my creations have survived the test of time is another thing that makes me proud. Ultimately, my work speaks for itself, and that is the best thing for me.”

Image credit: courtesy of Giorgio Armani

The fashion industry has changed dramatically since you started as a young designer. What has most inspired the way you work? And what changes – if any – do you feel less enthused about?
“The fashion system has changed so much, I sometimes feel I inhabit a completely different environment, compared to when I started. The pace has become faster and faster, and we, as designers, are forced to dish out products at an alarming rate, something I do not like that much. I sure like the competition, as there are more and more designers, just as I like the fragmentation: today there are almost as many styles as there are designers. What I really dislike is the fact that today fashion is mostly about entertainment and communication, sometimes to the detriment of the product. Let’s not forget that we are here to dress people with something authentic, useful, beautiful.” 

Image credit: courtesy of Giorgio Armani

When you launched Armani, you redefined the way men and women dressed. Do you think it’s possible for a designer to create such seismic shifts in fashion today? Is there still such a thing as an original idea?
“Back when I started my revolution, I saw men wearing stiff jackets that concealed the body and looked more like cages than anything else. I was looking for the exact opposite: clothes that created ease of movement and comfort. That’s how I came to create the first unstructured jacket in the mid-1970s, getting rid of lining and padding. Bit by bit, I also changed the arrangement of the buttons and modified the proportions: a process that radically transformed this garment, at the same time as men were exploring softer ways to be masculine. It was a moment of deep change, and I was part of that wave. Today, we have the impression that everything has been done and there is no such thing as an original idea or an original silhouette. I believe the contrary: there is still room to create something relevant and new, but doing so requires focus, and the awareness that fashion is first and foremost about hard work, not fame. Authenticity is key, but it is becoming increasingly rare.”

Image credit: courtesy of Giorgio Armani

Who do you have in mind when you design, and has that person changed over time?
“I have always had in mind not a body, but an attitude, when designing. I am catering for the modern man and the modern woman: people who fully live their time and value elegance, thus appreciate my aesthetic. I want to provide my clients with a sense of quiet confidence. The person I design for hasn’t changed over time, but it sure has evolved, in sync with the times.”

Image credit: courtesy of Giorgio Armani

Your design repertoire goes far beyond fashion. What drives you to create and how do you maintain such unwavering momentum?
“As a creative person, what I like best about my job has always been seeing the results of my creativity. The urge to create is innate, I believe. I follow it because creation, for me, means producing something that touches the lives of real people. It can be a jacket, or the impeccable service and elegant furnishing in a hotel. It can even be a piece of chocolate. What keeps it all together is my taste, my constant quest for soulful, sophisticated simplicity. The more I work, the more I feel inspired. Work is also a wonderful anti-ageing serum.”

Image credit: courtesy of Giorgio Armani

Over the years, you have created some brilliant advertising campaigns. Are you relieved to have built your brand pre-social media, or do you wish, like today’s rising designers, that you were able to connect directly with your audience?
“I built my empire bit by bit, not in a rush, and that makes it solid. I have built it on the observation of reality, too, right from the very start. I wanted to dress real men and women. I wanted to see them all on the street, not just on the pages of magazines or in the illusive world of television; I wanted my clothing to bring them a new awareness of their worth; I wanted it to suit the changing roles of a society in a constant rush. The imagery I created back then is still relevant, because it feels authentic. Social media is quite fickle, and sometimes too mercantile: I am fine with the way I connected with my audience. I don’t blame the new ways to connect with the public, but I still prefer mine.” 

Image credit: courtesy of Giorgio Armani

Do you look at, or use, social media yourself?
“I do look at social media, but don’t use it, as I have better and more urgent things to do. Being a public figure, of course, I created a company profile on Instagram, which is the platform I am most interested in – it’s where we tell the story of the Armani universe. I have no plans to open a personal profile, however; I am a very reserved person and I’ve always protected my private life. Besides that, I don’t want to be influenced by influencers!” 

Image credit: courtesy of Giorgio Armani

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What is most important to you today?
“Hard work is important, but it’s not everything. Spending time with those that matter to me is important. I do this job out of passion — an absolute, burning, visceral passion. I do it with enthusiasm, commitment and dedication. I never thought that I would achieve such world fame by being a designer. Of course, fame is not what pushed me towards this path. It wasn’t money either — it can’t buy elegance. Making things: that’s what has always motivated me.”  

Image credit: courtesy of Giorgio Armani

What, if anything, do you regret?
“I don’t really suffer regret, as it is a fairly pointless feeling. However, if I were to relive my life, I’d spend more time with my loved ones.”

The Armani suit is era defining. What was on your mind at that time: what music were you listening to, who were you surrounding yourself with? What fuelled that aesthetic?
“I am an extremely pragmatic creator: first and foremost I look at what’s around me. I did so when I created those famous suits, looking at men of my age – I was 40 at the time – and what they wanted to wear, which were not the suits of their fathers. My sister and her friends caught up on the same jackets, and the rest is history. It might sound funny, but the sound of modernity was disco, and I was listening a lot to that.”

Image credit: Getty Images

What music do you listen to today, and is there anyone you would still like to dress?
“I listen to any kind of music, from pop to classic, from old to new. I like rhythm. As for the musicians I’d like to dress, there are many – but to tell you the truth, I find the idea of a man buying his first important suit, or a woman choosing her attire for a meaningful career advancement, finding what they need at an Armani store, far more rewarding than the idea of dressing another celebrity. I’ve been there and am still there with pleasure, but dressing real people in real life is my ultimate goal.”

What makes you smile when you wake up in the morning?
“I like to do things, to work: that puts me in a good mood. It’s no coincidence that my happy place, where I feel the best, is my office: it’s where I achieve my visions, where what’s in my head becomes real and tangible. It’s the most incredible feeling; it fills me with energy and adrenaline every single time.”

Image credit: courtesy of Giorgio Armani

How do you quieten your mind at the end of the day?
“At the end of the day I take time for myself, just to think. I usually have a simple dinner at home, after which I like to relax in front of the television watching a good film or a TV series. I try not to stay up too late, because I have another busy day ahead of me the next day.”

Image credit: courtesy of Giorgio Armani

What is the biggest misconception about you as a designer?
I think most of the people have an almost ascetic idea of me. Sure, I love sobriety and can do less is more, but I am also a bon vivant and an eccentric. As I told you, I was listening to disco when I created my famous suits. Today, from time to time, I go to Giorgio’s, the exclusive members-only evening at the Armani/Privé Club in Milan.” 

Image credit: courtesy of Giorgio Armani

What advice would you give young designers wishing to follow in your footsteps?
The scenario today is much more complex. Standing out requires utmost dedication because the competition is fierce. For a new designer, I would suggest, first of all, to thoroughly study people’s demands and then to respond to these needs with something that is new, fresh, meaningful. It is the only way to tackle today’s fashion world without ever getting discouraged.”

Other than fashion, what makes you happy?
I am simply happy to live, to have people who I trust at my side, to be healthy. I am a simple person, with simple, yet deep, feelings.”