The world of fashion has lost one of its emperors: Giorgio Armani, the Milanese designer who virtually redefined what “elegance” means, has died at 91. His company confirmed that he passed away peacefully in Milan on September 4, 2025, surrounded by friends and family.
Known around the world as Re Giorgio — King Giorgio — the designer leaves behind more than just a label. He leaves behind an empire stretching from red carpets to restaurants, from Hollywood to hospitals, from the silken lapels of Richard Gere in American Gigolo to the uniforms of Olympic athletes. Armani was more than a brand; his creations embodied an aesthetic philosophy. He distilled Italian craftsmanship into a new kind of global prestige.
The Armani Revolution
Back in the 1970s, when disco sequins and rigid tailoring were the fashion norm, Armani dropped something radical: the unstructured jacket. He stripped out the padding, softened the silhouette, and created clothing that mirrored the body instead of restraining it. In doing so, he liberated men’s fashion — and, soon, women’s — from stiffness. His clothes didn’t just look chic; they looked powerful.
By the ’80s, Armani was everywhere. His sleek monochromatic suits became shorthand for ambition and success. Striding into a boardroom or stepping onto a red carpet, Armani was your armor.
A Global Empire
Armani wasn’t content with merely dominating the runway. Over five decades, he spun his vision into a multi-billion-euro empire, spanning couture, ready-to-wear, fragrances, accessories, hotels, and even cafes. His reach was total. Armani wasn’t simply selling clothing; he was selling a worldview.
It was a vision that resonated. At its peak, the Armani Group generated more than €2.3 billion annually, with stores across every fashion capital【】. From Tokyo to Dubai, Armani was shorthand for luxury with restraint — a stylish, seductive whisper instead of a coarse shout.
Just days before his death, Armani gave a rare interview to the Financial Times in which he admitted his single regret: devoting too much time to work, and not enough to friends and family. A startlingly human confession from a man so often thought of as aloof, remote – a man whose image was as meticulously curated as his clothing lines.
He also spoke of preparing his company’s succession. Unlike many fashion houses swallowed by conglomerates, Armani always held tight control over his brand. He made it absolutely clear that he wanted trusted colleagues — like longtime collaborator Leo Dell’Orco — and members of his family to tend to matters in his absence.
Tributes Pour In
Reaction has been global. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni praised Armani as “an icon of elegance, sobriety, and creativity”. Designers across the spectrum — from Milan to Paris to New York — posted tributes to a man who shaped what luxury means in the modern world.
Hollywood voices were heard, and for good reason. Armani’s easy but immaculate tailoring gave actors and actresses their most memorable moments, from Gere’s sleek confidence in American Gigolo to Jodie Foster’s commanding suits on countless red carpets. Lady Gaga and Rihanna have relied on Armani’s understated power when gliding through the limelight.
An Equisite Artist & Anthropologist
Armani wasn’t merely a designer; he was an observer of culture. His collections often drew from travel and history. His 1994 trip to India inspired decades of work, culminating in a 2019 capsule collection influenced by the silhouette of the achkan, a traditional Indian garment.
Through it all, Armani remained grounded in Milan. His kingdom may have stretched across continents, but his creative heart never left the city’s picturesque cobblestoned streets and soaring Gothic spires.
Armani gave us more than suits. He gave us confidence in simplicity. He proved that restraint could be revolutionary. He made neutral palettes seductive. And he insisted that individual style always surpasses the merely fashionable. Style lasts; fashion fades.
The scissors have been set aside, the bolt of fabric is now untouched, the atelier is quiet. The Emperor has gone away, but his influence is felt everywhere. The slouchy jacket, the satin slip dress, the subtle fragrance of his perfume affirm his presence. Fashion moves like lightning, but Armani is timeless.
