ROYAL ACADEMY TO SHOWCASE THE DESIGNS OF GIORGIO ARMANI

June 17, 2003Jun 17, 2003, 11:00 PM GMT+1

The Royal Academy plans to launch its new Burlington Gardens gallery in high style, with a dazzling retrospective of Italian designer Giorgio Armani.

Set for an October opening in London, the Armani exhibition features more than 400 pieces, along with original sketches and photographs of his creations. Included in the display are examples from different periods of his career, as well as wardrobes he created for Hollywood productions, such as the trendsetting suits worn by Richard Gere in the 1980 film American Gigolo.

The extensive collection, which spans the famed designer's 30 years in fashion, made its debut at the Guggenheim Museum in New York three years ago. The Royal Academy is the latest stop for the style showcase – it has also been displayed at the Guggenhemin Museum in Bilbao, Spain, and is currently at Berlin's Neue Nationalgalerie.

Giorgio Armani: A Retrospective opens on October 18 and runs until February 15, 2004.

The exhibition, which includes 400 creations by the Italian designer, will open the Royal Academy's new space in Burlington Gardens this OctoberPhoto: © PA Picselect y

Sketches and photographs will be included in the display alongside an array of Armani designsPhoto: © PA Picselect/Tom Munro

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