Legendary Italian designer Giorgio Armani dies

Annabel RackhamCulture reporter Getty ImagesArmani reimagined and modernised ladies’s and males’s fits The Italian dressmaker and billionaire model proprietor Giorgio Armani has died on the age of 91.He was the archetype of Italian fashion and class, reimagining males’s and ladies’s fits for a contemporary viewers.Armani, which started as a vogue firm, expanded into magnificence, perfume, music, sport and even luxurious accommodations, whereas as a revered businessman, his firm introduced greater than £2bn a 12 months.Donatella Versace paid tribute to the late designer on her Instagram web page, posting an image of him, saying: “The world misplaced an enormous immediately, he made historical past and will probably be remembered perpetually.”Getty ImagesGiorgio Armani with Latvian mannequin Agnes Zogla at his ultimate runway present in January 2025In an announcement on the model’s Instagram web page, it stated Armani ” labored till his ultimate days, dedicating himself to the corporate, the collections and the various ongoing future initiatives”. It additionally stated he was “indefatigable to the tip” and “pushed by relentless curiosity and a deep consideration to the current and to folks”.The designer was seen as a pioneer in some ways, elevating pink carpet vogue to what we see immediately.He was additionally the primary designer to ban underweight fashions from the runway, after the loss of life of mannequin Ana Carolina Reston in 2006 from anorexia nervosa.’Made his mark’Russell Crowe described Armani as a person who “made a mark acknowledged across the globe”.The actor stated he “adored” Armani and was meant to be seeing him this month, including that the designer was there for “so many important moments in my life”. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni additionally paid tribute, saying: “Together with his class, sobriety, and creativity, he was capable of carry lustre to Italian vogue and encourage your entire world.”An icon, a tireless employee, a logo of the very best of Italy. Thanks for every little thing.”Getty ImagesGiorgio Armani was seen as a pioneer of swimsuit tailoring for males and womenIn a profile in The Monetary Instances, in one of many designer’s final interviews, Alexander Fury wrote: “He put ladies right into a uniform of fits simply as radical as Chanel’s, creating forceful, assured clothes that helped to energy the working lady’s social revolution of the Nineteen Eighties. “Against this, he relaxed menswear, deconstructing conventional tailoring in a fashion that has affected how nearly each swimsuit on the planet is made.”A pal of Hollywood, he understood the ability of publicity and dressed a few of its greatest stars for the pink carpet together with for the Oscars – together with Zendaya, Cate Blanchett and Julia Roberts.He additionally designed stage outfits for Girl Gaga and numerous costumes for movies American Gigolo and The Wolf of Wall Road.Whilst he entered his tenth decade, Armani continued to current new collections on the French and Italian catwalks.His March 2025 present was designed to make an announcement on world politics, with him stating that he “needed to think about new concord” as he believed “that’s what all of us want”.Concern over his well being was first expressed in June this 12 months, when he missed Milan vogue week.He directed a couture present in Paris in July 2025, however did this remotely from his residence in Milan.Getty ImagesGiorgio Armani pictured in 1979 together with his petsArmani was described as a “true gentleman” and “titan of the trade” by Vogue’s Laura Ingham, who paid tribute to the late designer.She added: “If you do not know something about vogue, you will nonetheless know Giorgio Armani. Mr. Armani constructed a home synonymous with timeless Italian class and enduring fashion”.Referencing his traditional fashion, which included “refined silhouettes” and “immaculate tailoring”, she concluded that “his legacy is woven not solely into fashions previous and current however will proceed to form its future for generations to return”. Beginning his profession in medication, he moved to vogue within the Sixties and arrange his personal luxurious label in 1975 alongside his late accomplice Sergio Galeotti. He confronted a lot criticism throughout his profession, together with in 2015 when he stated a homosexual man “doesn’t want to decorate gay”.His firm additionally reached a monetary settlement with Italian tax authorities over offshore subsidiaries in 2014, although no wrongdoing was admitted.Away from vogue, he was a eager sports activities fan and supported Serie A soccer crew Inter Milan and owned the Olimpia Milano basketball crew.The style model additionally had a partnership with the Scuderia Ferrari F1 crew, with one in all their drivers, Charles Leclerc writing on Instagram that it was “an amazing honour to have had the possibility to satisfy and work with such an incredible individual”.Armani was additionally introduced with the French Legion of Honour and Italian Order of Advantage for Labour for his work in vogue.