Legendary Italian designer Giorgio Armani, credited with transforming modern fashion and empowering generations through his designs, has died at the age of 91. Widely hailed as the most influential designer since Coco Chanel, Armani reshaped the way men and women dressed, famously softening the male suit and creating powerful, elegant workwear for women. His minimalist yet luxurious aesthetic brought him global acclaim, and newspapers once dubbed him the “first post-modern designer.”
Born in Piacenza, northern Italy, in 1934, Armani’s childhood was marked by wartime hardship, including a near-fatal explosion that scarred him for life. After briefly studying medicine and serving in the army, he found his calling in fashion as a window dresser in Milan’s La Rinascente department store. Unlike many of his contemporaries, Armani learned design on the shop floor, mastering fabrics and tailoring techniques before moving on to work with designer Nino Cerruti, where his flair for structure and fabric revolutionized menswear.
Armani’s true breakthrough came in the 1970s when, encouraged by his partner Sergio Galeotti, he launched his own label. His fluid tailoring redefined men’s fashion while his sharp, elegantly styled suits for women coincided with the rise of female professionals entering the workplace. Armani’s designs achieved Hollywood immortality when Richard Gere wore his creations in the 1980 film American Gigolo, a turning point that propelled the Armani name into global recognition.
Over the following decades, Armani built an empire spanning clothing, fragrances, cosmetics, accessories, hotels, and sportswear, cultivating what GQ described as the “total look.” Despite the death of Galeotti in 1985, Armani pressed on, retaining full control of his brand and resisting corporate takeovers. His company became one of the last great independent fashion houses, making him a billionaire while setting Milan on par with Paris as a global fashion capital.
Even in his later years, Armani remained an active presence on the runways of Milan and Paris, marking milestones such as the Guggenheim exhibition of his work in 2000 and designing uniforms for Olympic teams. Known for his discipline, minimalism, and pursuit of perfection, he continued to debut new collections well into his 90s. Forbes estimated his fortune at $13 billion, but Armani’s true legacy lies in the enduring elegance he brought to everyday fashion, empowering both men and women through style.
