7:00 A.M.
I wake up at seven—I've always been an early riser. I used to think that I did it because I had to, but I realized that I actually love to follow the day's natural rhythm. I sleep in lightweight, comfortable pajamas in the softest cotton. I like to wear something that feels different from my daytime uniform; it's a sort of ritual that induces sleep. After getting up I go to the gym for my daily training session. It seems like a nearly military regimen, but in reality it's extremely satisfying. There's nothing mysterious or out of the ordinary about my exercise routine. I work out for an hour and a half every day with a personal trainer who studies and changes up the exercises as needed. My motto, which I owe to Albert Einstein, is "We can't expect things to change if we keep doing the same things over and over."
8:45 A.M.
Showers energize me and mark the end of my workout. I could never give up a good moisturizer like my Armani Skin Minerals for Men and the scent of Armani Privé Bois d'Encens. It's subtle and intoxicating. Then I get dressed, have breakfast, and read the first newspapers of the day. I stick to a healthy and balanced diet, bending the rules only every now and then. Breakfast is the same as what I ate when I was a child: a classic menu of coffee, toast, and jam, always accompanied by fresh fruit and a plain yogurt or a croissant. It's a little bit of a splurge that gives me energy and puts me in a good mood. It doesn't take me very long to decide on the clothes I like to wear. I feel at ease in a true work uniform: silk T-shirt, cashmere sweater, comfortable drawstring pants—always navy blue. And white sneakers. There are a lot of these pieces in my wardrobe; just like a deconstructed jacket, they're fundamental. I choose my shoes according to the occasion—generally sneakers, or oxfords for more formal attire. 
9:15 A.M.
I've never carried a bag, so all I bring to the office is my cell phone. The style and executive offices are all on Via Borgonuovo in Milan, which is where I live, so I can walk there. I take a chauffeured car when I have to go from one place to another, and I usually travel with a colleague. In the car I like to listen to music and news on the radio.
9:30 A.M.
The first thing I do is stop by the office to check the agenda for the day. I confirm or move appointments around like a delicate puzzle and listen to my messages. I get dozens and dozens of e-mails and phone calls a day—it would be tough to count. My staff and secretaries respond. Given how many I get, that's the only way things can be handled.
1:00 P.M.
Lunch is usually a light dish that doesn't weigh me down. I have fruit as an afternoon snack, and I drink a lot of water as well as cold and hot herbal teas.
3:00 P.M.
After I've leafed through the monthly magazines on the table in front of me, I'll go to a meeting or meet with staff from the various style offices or the team of architects who manage the shops, Armani/Casa, and the hotels. They are full days, and one appointment runs right into the next. I prefer to communicate face-to-face whenever possible. I try to make every day perfect, which is an ethical commitment because there are great days to the detriment of others. But when I vacation on my boat, I enjoy being seaside, swimming, admiring the sky, enjoying the wind, and listening to the waves. The best part is that I have everything there that I'm used to surrounding myself with, in the same style and with the same decor as my homes but with the sense of freedom that exists when at sea.
8:00 P.M.
When I get home I sit on the couch by the television with my cats, Mairî and Angel, curled up next to me. I usually have dinner at home. My favorite dish is spaghetti alla Bisanzio, which simply has tomatoes and mozzarella along with a marvelous touch of fresh basil. I like inviting friends over to watch a movie or a soccer match. We bond over the commentary and jokes and things like that. More than parties, I like having friends come to my house. Sometimes I have people over who are passing through Milan or who may have helped out with a fashion show. I am obsessed with movies. 
For years I loved Hitchcock's Notorious, which is elegance in the extreme, but for sometime now I've been fascinated by Vertigo for the story's ambiguities and the idea of having a double. A book that I really love—to the point that I enrolled in medical school to follow in the protagonist's footsteps—is The Citadel, by A. J. Cronin.
I play a lot of music in the house; it relaxes me. It's not just by chance that we put out compilations for Emporio Armani with songs that I've chosen for fashion shows. My favorite song is "Suzanne," by Leonard Cohen. I am also an avid reader of newspapers and magazines. I watch TV and channel-surf quite a bit, and I never miss the political and current affairs programs. Television is a mirror of the times, and I enjoy seeing how and how much they have changed.
10:30 P.M.
My bed linens are classic. Very Armani. The cotton sheets are always freshly laundered every day and are really enjoyable when I finally get to bed around 10:30.
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