Armani photographed for Harper’s Bazaar 2024

Legendary fashion designer Giorgio Armani passed away on September 4th, 2025. We honor his exquisite and luxurious style, celebrating his resilience and the lasting impact of his work in fashion.

Giorgio Armani: A Lasting Legacy of Refined Elegance

Born in Piacenza, Italy, in 1934, Giorgio Armani initially set out to become a doctor, enrolling in medical school at the University of Milan. However, after three years, he left the program—unsettled by his experiences in hospital settings during military service. This turning point marked the beginning of a journey that would transform not just his life, but the fashion world itself.

Armani entered the industry in the 1960s with no formal design training. He began working as a window dresser and buyer at the Milan department store La Rinascente, where he developed a keen eye for style, fabric, and consumer tastes. His big break came when he joined Nino Cerruti’s menswear company, Hitman, as a designer. There, he refined his tailoring skills and developed the relaxed yet sophisticated silhouette that would become his signature.

Encouraged by his partner and collaborator Sergio Galeotti, Armani eventually left Cerruti and began freelancing for various Italian fashion houses. In 1975, with Galeotti’s support, he launched his own label—Giorgio Armani—and debuted his first menswear and womenswear collections. His clean lines, neutral color palettes, and unstructured jackets revolutionized fashion, offering a sleek alternative to the stiff, formal styles of the era.

By 1980, Armani had become a household name, thanks in part to Hollywood. His costumes for the 1980 film American Gigolo—worn by Richard Gere—catapulted him into the international spotlight and cemented his reputation as a designer of effortless, modern elegance.

In 2024, Armani marked 50 years at the helm of his fashion house. His enduring success lies in a commitment to timeless design rooted in masterful tailoring and quiet luxury. From fluid, silken suits to heady colognes, the Armani brand has always embodied richness—not just in price tag, but in substance and style.

His empire now spans fashion, beauty, entertainment, sports, and hospitality. Armani Beauty boasts a cult-favorite foundation, while his red carpet looks—often subtle, always refined—have adorned stars like Julia Roberts, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Richard Gere. A dedicated sports fan, Armani designed uniforms for top soccer teams and extended his aesthetic to the luxury hospitality world through Armani Hotels in cities like Milan and Dubai.

From humble beginnings in department store windows to global dominance across multiple industries, Giorgio Armani remains one of the most influential designers in modern history—an icon of elegance, endurance, and innovation.

Below are Armani’s best looks in magazines, on red carpets, in film, and in music