Leo Dell'Orco has worked with Giorgio Armani as his menswear creative director for years and years. He was with Armani during all his most important collections and, by connection, one of the designers that most directly affected the way millions of men have dressed over the past twenty years.
Leo is one of those unsung heroes that will never be written up in the fashion history books but his consistent input undoubtly helped make Armani who he is today. I have to admit I was more nervous meeting Leo than I have been meeting almost any other designer I have met in the last five or six years; maybe it was because I was so surprised to see him walking down Elizabeth street in Nolita with several of his friends.
When you know about Leo and how incredibly stylish and cool he is, it makes the discussion of Armani's retirement and succession so much more interesting.
Could Armani ask for a better successor for his men's business than the man he has worked so closely with for the past twenty-ish years?