Giorgio Armani: I was good looking

Giorgio Armani thinks being "good looking" helped him break into fashion.

Related Photos: Armani F/W 2012/2013

The Italian designer - who is known for his clean cut, tailored menswear - admits it wasn't difficult for him to get noticed when he was younger because of his appearance.

He says: "Up until I was about 30 to 32-years-old, I used to potter around doing a small job at a department store.

"I used to coordinate what went into the window or other store tasks. And I didn't have to work very hard - because, well, I was quite good looking.

"The female managers in the shop used to favour me, making things really easy for me."

Related Photos: Giorgio Armani holds fashion show in Beijing

However, Giorgio, 78, soon came to the conclusion that going about it in such a way left little room for excitement and respect.

He told Italian newspaper La Repubblica:"I realised that I couldn't and didn't want to go on living like that - on the fringes of a beautiful profession, without working hard, without risking, without standing up for it.

"So, I learned how to work in all different areas of this profession. First I committed myself exclusively to fashion design, because I had a partner who dealt with all the economical and practical aspects.

"And then, when my partner passed away I had to take care of everything myself. I had to somehow wake up and doing this made me into who I am today."