Giorgio Armani’s Top Musical Moments

He may be known as the maestro of understated elegance, but Giorgio Armani can also turn out spectacular stage attire. Here, he discusses five of his favorites:

1. Jennifer Lopez, for the 2010 Academy Awards “For Jennifer I chose a dress from the Giorgio Armani Privé collection that had a mermaid silhouette, as I thought it complemented her shape beautifully. The dress is iridescent, icy pale pink, and was created in high-tech, almost futuristic silk organza. The knockout features were the crescent-shaped bustier and the side train adorned with crystals. She looked like a perfect dream.”

2. Alicia Keys, for her Freedom Tour, 2010 “To give Alicia some edginess while also accentuating her figure, I conceived a striking military jacket in crocodile-print leather with embroidery on the shoulders, teamed with leggings and boots in leather and crystals. This image was rounded off by metal, crystal, and sequined embellishments.”

3. Katy Perry, for the 2011 Grammy Awards “I see Katy as an intriguing mix of naughty and nice. For the red carpet I created a dress that would reflect that personality. The iridescent white silk organza skirt with a long cascading train and the crystal-encrusted bustier were enhanced by a pair of feather wings. She looked like an angel, but a very provocative one.”

4. Ricky Martin, for his Musica+Alma+Sexo World Tour, 2011 “Ricky is undoubtedly a man with lots of sex appeal. That’s why I created a number of black leather jackets for the opening of his Eighties punk–inspired show. He looks great in my suits, but on this occasion I wanted to surprise people and show there is a tougher, sportier side to him.”

5. Tina Turner, for her 50th-Anniversary Tour, 2008 “Tina needed outfits that emphasized how dynamic and physical she is as a performer. My response was dramatic short dresses in silk jersey with all-over embroidery and crystals, or leggings with diamanté—to highlight what a powerful bundle of energy she is.”

Photos: Lopez: Fairchild Archive. All others: Getty Images