Farewell to Giorgio Armani, the Maestro of Italian Elegance

Really close to the 2025 New York Fashion Week —where we are certain designers and editors will pay homage to him— comes the news that Italian fashion legend Giorgio Armani has passed away at 91, the Armani Group confirmed. Revered for defining a quintessentially Italian elegance and revolutionizing Hollywood’s red carpets, “Il Signor Armani” was described by his team as “a tireless driving force.”

Born in Piacenza in 1934, Armani co-founded his brand in 1975, introducing a softer menswear silhouette and powerful womenswear tailoring that reshaped global style. From American Gigolo to the Oscars, his understated designs became synonymous with timeless glamour.

Photo courtesy of Getty Images

Remaining the sole shareholder of his company—valued at up to €10 billion—Armani built an empire spanning Emporio Armani, Armani/Casa, and luxury hotels, while also designing Olympic uniforms and owning Italy’s Olimpia Milano basketball team.

Armani’s legacy endures in red carpets, boardrooms, and wardrobes worldwide: a visionary who blurred gender lines in fashion and left behind a brand inseparable from his name.