Giorgio Armani, the revered Italian fashion designer whose name became synonymous with understated elegance and modern tailoring, has died at the age of 91, his company confirmed on Thursday.
“With infinite sorrow, the Armani Group announces the passing of its creator, founder and tireless driving force: Giorgio Armani,” read a statement issued by the fashion house.
Armani’s influence spanned nearly five decades, with a portfolio that included Giorgio Armani and Emporio Armani, the haute couture label Armani Privé, and the interior design line Armani Casa. He had been absent from his last three runway shows in June and July due to illness, and was expected to attend the brand’s 50th anniversary celebrations later this month, including an exhibition at Milan’s Pinacoteca di Brera.
Throughout his career, Armani remained fiercely independent, reportedly turning down numerous offers to join one of the major luxury fashion conglomerates. He described the autonomy of his brand as “an essential value”.
His debut presentation in 1975 revolutionised menswear, introducing the concept of soft power dressing. Dubbed “King of the Blazer”, Armani’s designs featured longer-cut jackets, loosely pleated trousers and belted coats, offering a relaxed alternative to rigid tailoring. He later applied the same principles to womenswear, liberating silhouettes from restrictive forms and embracing a muted palette of greys and beige, hallmarks of what would later be termed “quiet luxury”.
The brand gained international prominence in 1980 when Richard Gere wore Armani designs in the film American Gigolo, marking a new era of collaboration between fashion and Hollywood. Unlike previous couturiers who dressed individual stars, Armani cultivated relationships with multiple actors.
Diane Keaton was the first to wear Armani on the Oscars red carpet in 1978. Jodie Foster has worn the label to all but one ceremony since 1989, while Julia Roberts’ 1990 Golden Globes ensemble remains one of the most iconic red carpet looks of all time.
Born in Piacenza, northern Italy, in 1934, Armani initially pursued a career in medicine, enrolling at the University of Milan before leaving to join the army. He later found work as a window dresser and sales associate at La Rinascente, a prominent Milanese department store, before taking on a menswear design role at Nino Cerruti.
At the age of 41, Armani launched his own label, encouraged by his partner Sergio Galeotti, an architect who persuaded him to sell his Volkswagen Beetle to fund the venture. Galeotti managed the business side while Armani focused on design. Following Galeotti’s death in 1995, Armani continued to lead the company alone.
“I got into fashion almost by accident and then it slowly grew in me until it completely absorbed me, stealing my life away,” he once reflected.
Armani’s legacy endures not only in the garments he created but in the ethos of elegance, independence and innovation that defined his career.
