Giorgio Armani opens up about his sexuality and male partners

After almost 25 years of silence, renowned fashion designer Giorgio Armani is finally discussing the sexual experiences he has had with men throughout his extensive life.

Now at 90 years old, the fashion icon has not publicly addressed his sex life since 2000, when he shared with Vanity Fair that he has “had women in my life. And sometimes men.”

In a recent interview with Corriere della Sera, the designer, whose net worth is estimated at $13 billion (around £10 billion), is revealing details about losing his virginity, recognising his attraction to men for the first time, and the meaningful relationship he had with his business partner.

As ‘Pride’ reports, Armani confessed that he lost his virginity to a girl in his class, before recounting his first gay crush while attending summer camp.

“I've never talked about this,” he disclosed in an interview. “It happened under a shed on the beach at Misano, at five in the afternoon, when all the boys from the summer camp were supposed to have a bit of a quiet time.”

The boy he had a crush on was his camp counsellor, and while he didn’t go into detail about what transpired on that beach, it was a pivotal moment in his life.

“I was in a group of boys, and there was a supervisor, a young man, who I felt immediately attracted to. I didn't fully understand it at the time, and I didn't pursue it,” he explained. “But from that moment on, my life took a different turn.”

This early awakening was perplexing for Armani, who was still grappling with his feelings. “I didn't understand what it was. I didn't distinguish between men and women at the time. It was just an attraction I felt, something beautiful: I couldn't wait to be near him, to be touched… I felt a huge connection,” he stated, noting that this is the first time he has shared this story.

“I've never told anyone about this. It's still a very emotional memory for me.”

Everything shifted when he met his business partner and lover, Sergio Galeotti, with whom he was in a relationship for over a decade. “We met near the Capannina nightclub in Versilia, where I was on holiday for a couple of days,” Armani recounted. “I saw Sergio in his car and I immediately fell for his Tuscan smile.”

Their relationship spanned the ‘70s and ‘80s, but it tragically ended when Galeotti passed away from an AIDS-related illness in 1985.

“When Sergio died, a part of me died with him. I'm still amazed that I found within myself the resilience to withstand such immense pain,” he reflected, recalling how difficult it was to witness Galeotti’s illness.

“I had to tap into my willpower to deal with all the pain and anguish. A whole year spent next to Sergio in his hospital bed. And it all happened as our career was taking off, when we were becoming known, setting up our company, reaching worldwide fame. It was the moment I was gaining confidence in myself, then this blow hit me.”

Currently, Armani is in a relationship with Leo Dell'Orco, who heads the men’s style office for his fashion brand. While they are not married and Armani stops short of declaring that he is in love, he wears a “wonderful ring with a diamond” that he managed to save from a fire.

“I think it over and realize there's no point in being in love and giving it so little space, because I just don't have that much space,” he explained. “But I have deep affection for Leo, who has lived with me for years and is the person closest to me.”