Giorgio Armani has passed away at the age of 91, and the world of fashion has lost its king. His fashion house confirmed that Armani died peacefully, surrounded by loved ones, and he remained actively involved in his brand until the very end.
Armani did more than design clothes. He redefined elegance. His unstructured, fluid tailoring rejected stiff formality in favor of relaxed refinement. He made the power suit softer and the red carpet pristine. His designs in American Gigolo and Miami Vice didn’t just trend, they changed the way people expected luxury to feel.
From a humble upbringing in postwar Piacenza, Armani rose through Milan’s department stores and quickly took menswear by storm. In 1975 he co-founded his own label with Sergio Galeotti, a brand built to stand apart. After Galeotti’s death in 1985, Armani ran the business alone, fiercely independent and unwaveringly faithful to his creative vision.
His private empire extended far beyond fashion. Armani built a lifestyle universe: Emporio Armani, Armani/Casa, fragrances, cosmetics, luxury hotels, and cafes. He shaped not just closets but entire lifestyles.
Tributes poured in from across the globe. Julia Roberts called him “a true friend, a legend.” Donatella Versace named him “a giant.” Stars like Leonardo DiCaprio and Beyoncé joined peers, politicians, and admirers in recognizing what was lost: one of Italy’s most cherished creative forces.
Final Word
For Italian Americans, Armani’s story is pure pride. He took a small-town upbringing and built a global legacy with unmatched elegance, independence, and grit. We remember him not just for his style but for his discipline and vision.
May he rest in elegance.
Sources: The Guardian, People, AP News, Reuters, Teen Vogue, Washington Post, Daily Beast, Wikipedia.
