Fashion Legend Giorgio Armani Dies at 91: The End of an Era for Italian Style

The billionaire designer who revolutionized fashion and built a $10 billion empire passed away peacefully at his home in Milan

The King of Fashion Bids Farewell

The fashion world mourns the loss of one of its greatest visionaries. Giorgio Armani, the Italian fashion designer who transformed elegance into a universal language, died peacefully at his home surrounded by loved ones on Thursday, September 4, 2025, at the age of 91.

Known affectionately as “Re Giorgio” (King Giorgio) by his fellow Italians, Armani worked tirelessly until his final days, dedicating himself to his company, collections, and ongoing projects. His passing marks the end of an era for Italian fashion and leaves behind a legacy that redefined modern style for generations.

The Armani Group announced his death in a statement describing him as “a tireless driving force” who “passed away peacefully, surrounded by his loved ones”. The fashion house emphasized that “in this company, we have always felt like part of a family”, reflecting the deep personal connections Armani fostered throughout his five-decade career.

From Humble Beginnings to Global Empire

The Doctor Who Became a Designer

Born July 11, 1934, in Piacenza, a small town south of Milan, Armani originally dreamed of becoming a doctor before a part-time job as a window decorator in a Milan department store opened his eyes to the world of fashion. This chance encounter with retail display would ultimately reshape the global fashion landscape.

In 1975, Armani and his business partner Sergio Galeotti sold their Volkswagen for $10,000 to start their own menswear ready-to-wear label. What began as a modest venture in a tiny Milan office would grow into one of the world’s most recognizable luxury brands.

The timing couldn’t have been more perfect. Italian fashion was experiencing a renaissance, and Armani’s vision of understated elegance struck a chord with consumers seeking sophistication without ostentation.

The Revolutionary Unlined Jacket

The symbol of Armani’s new style was the unlined sports jacket, launched in the late 1970s, which became an instant success from Hollywood to Wall Street. This seemingly simple innovation revolutionized men’s fashion by creating a more relaxed, comfortable silhouette that maintained formal elegance.

The designer paired the jacket with a simple t-shirt, an item of clothing he termed “the alpha and omega of the fashion alphabet”. This combination became the uniform of success for countless professionals and celebrities worldwide.

For women, Armani’s introduction of the pantsuit into executive wardrobes was nothing short of revolutionary, providing professional women with sophisticated alternatives that rivaled traditional menswear in authority and style.

Hollywood’s Best-Dressed Secret Weapon

The “American Gigolo” Breakthrough

Five years after launching his luxury fashion house, Giorgio Armani secured his place in fashion history when he created the scene-stealing wardrobe for actor Richard Gere in “American Gigolo”. The 1980 film—with Gere as a bare-chested ladies’ man showcasing his collection of Armani suits, shirts and ties—forged a vivid link between clothes and seduction, forever making the designer’s relaxed style of tailored dressing part of the fashion vernacular.

This Hollywood connection established Armani as the go-to designer for stars seeking sophisticated elegance. Armani’s first red-carpet design was worn by Diane Keaton when she attended the Academy Awards in 1978, where she won an Oscar for best actress for her role in Annie Hall. Unlike many stars who wore gowns, Keaton wore a skirt and blazer designed by Armani, establishing the designer’s reputation for dressing powerful women.

Red Carpet Royalty

Over the decades, Armani became synonymous with red-carpet glamour. His designs graced countless award shows, premieres, and high-profile events, clothing everyone from Hollywood A-listers to world leaders. The Armani tuxedo became as recognizable as the Oscar statue itself.

His influence extended beyond mere clothing to encompass a complete lifestyle vision. Armani understood that fashion was about more than fabric and fit—it was about confidence, power, and personal expression.

Building a Billion-Dollar Legacy

The Business Empire

At the time of his death, Armani had assembled an empire worth over $10 billion, encompassing far more than clothing. His business included accessories, home furnishings, perfumes, cosmetics, books, flowers and even chocolates, ranking him among the world’s top 200 billionaires according to Forbes.

The designer also owned several bars, clubs, restaurants and his own basketball team EA7 Emporio Armani Milan, better known as Olympia Milano. Armani opened more than 20 restaurants from Milan to Tokyo since 1998, and two hotels, one in Dubai in 2009, and another in Milan in 2010.

The Emporio Revolution

Understanding that luxury fashion needed accessibility, Armani launched Emporio Armani, a more affordable line that brought his aesthetic to younger consumers. This diffusion line became hugely successful, proving that great design could work across multiple price points without sacrificing quality or style.

The Emporio line expanded the Armani universe, creating a pathway for fashion enthusiasts to enter the brand ecosystem and potentially graduate to higher-tier offerings as their circumstances evolved.

The Man Behind the Brand

Personal Style as Brand Identity

Armani style began with Giorgio Armani himself, from the penetrating blue eyes framed in a permanent tan and early-age shock of silver hair, to the trademark jeans and T-shirt work clothes and the minimalist decoration of his private homes.

“I design for real people. There is no virtue whatsoever in creating clothes and accessories that are not practical,” he often said when asked to identify his clientele.

In conversation, the designer’s disarming smile and exquisitely mild manners belied the tough businessman underneath, who was able to turn creative talent into a fashion empire. Never accepting a merger or sale, Re Giorgio (King George) as the Italians called him, was always his own boss.

The Philosophy of Perfection

Forbes quoted Armani as saying he was “never satisfied.” “In fact, as someone who is forever dissatisfied and obsessive in his search for perfection, I never give up until I’ve achieved the results I want,” he said.

This relentless pursuit of excellence defined every aspect of his work, from the cut of a jacket to the atmosphere of his flagship stores. Armani understood that luxury was found in details that others might overlook.

Industry Tributes Pour In

Fashion Royalty Remembers

Anna Wintour, former editor-in-chief of Vogue, described Armani as having a “clear force of personality” and a vision that made his work instantly distinguishable. “He understood power and attitude and elegance as well as anyone ever has in fashion, and he understood women too: how they wanted to dress and what message they wanted to send as they asserted themselves through his rise in the ’70s, ’80s, and beyond,” Wintour said in a Thursday statement.

She also credited him for refusing to confine himself to any one field or medium. “For him fashion wasn’t one thing: It was also film, music, sport, art, design, and architecture, and he left his mark in all these worlds—and everywhere he went,” she added.

Donatella Versace, a fellow Italian designer, posted a photo of Armani on Instagram and wrote that he had made history.

Cultural Impact Recognition

Italy’s Culture Minister Alessandro Giuli led the tributes, paying homage to “a leading figure in Italian culture, who was able to transform elegance into a universal language”. “His understated and innovative style redefined the relationship between fashion, cinema, and society, leaving an indelible mark on contemporary culture,” he said.

“He was not only a master of fashion, but also a recognized ambassador of Italian identity around the world,” Giuli added.

The Final Chapter

Working Until the End

Armani’s dedication to his craft never wavered. His company noted that the celebrated designer “worked until his final days,” with his commitment to the company remaining unwavering. The Armani founder had skipped a runway preview show earlier this summer due to an undisclosed condition, marking one of the few times in his career he had missed his own fashion presentations.

In June 2025, Armani was not present to take his usual bow at the brand’s show during Milan’s Men’s Fashion Week, marking the first time in his career he had missed his own runway event. At the time, the company released a statement that he was “currently recovering at home” without specifying his health condition.

The Succession Question

As of yet, there is no obvious heir to the Armani business, which in 2024 was valued by analysts at Bloomberg Intelligence between 8 to 10 billion euros ($9.3 billion to $11.7 billion). Unlike publicly traded companies, Armani’s brand is entirely privately owned, giving him complete control over decision-making and succession planning.

Armani relies on longtime executives, close associates, and family members, particularly his sister Rosanna Armani, to oversee operations. These trusted individuals are likely to manage the brand moving forward.

Armani had no children but was very close to his niece Roberta, daughter of his late brother Sergio.

A Lasting Legacy

Transforming Italian Fashion

In the current luxury landscape, which is dominated by conglomerates such as Louis Vuitton owner LVMH and Gucci parent company Kering, Armani was one of the few designers to remain the sole shareholder of his company. This independence allowed him to maintain creative control and build a brand that truly reflected his personal vision.

Armani’s influence in fashion extends to the present day: the timelessness and precision of his tailoring has led to a burgeoning secondhand market for vintage Armani designs. His pantsuits, which offered women a powerful and sophisticated alternative in the workplace and beyond, continue to be favored by stars, including Cate Blanchett who opted for a silk, two-piece suit by the label as she attended Wimbledon in 2025.

Beyond Fashion

Armani’s influence extended far beyond the fashion industry. Personally involved in several charity organizations devoted to children and a staunch supporter of the battle against AIDS, in 2002 Armani was named a UN goodwill ambassador for refugees.

Armani’s many accolades include being named a Grand Officer of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic in 2021, one of the country’s highest honors, and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Council of Fashion Designers of America.

The Planned Celebrations

A string of celebrations for Armani’s 50th year in business have been planned to take place during Milan Fashion Week this month, including the unveiling of an exhibition. These events, now transformed into memorials, will serve as fitting tributes to a man who gave the world a new definition of elegance.

The Enduring Vision

Giorgio Armani’s death marks the end of an era, but his influence on fashion, culture, and business will endure for generations. He proved that Italian style could compete with French couture and British tailoring while maintaining its own distinctive character.

His vision of accessible luxury, refined simplicity, and elegant functionality became the template for modern fashion houses worldwide. From the boardrooms of Wall Street to the red carpets of Hollywood, Armani’s aesthetic defined what it meant to dress with sophistication and confidence.

A Philosophy That Lives On

Armani’s vision “expanded from fashion to every aspect of life, anticipating the times with extraordinary clarity and precision”. This holistic approach to lifestyle branding became the model for luxury companies across industries.

His commitment to quality, attention to detail, and understanding of what real people wanted to wear created a brand that transcended fashion trends to become a permanent fixture in the luxury landscape.

The Made in Italy Legacy

Perhaps most importantly, Armani helped establish “Made in Italy” as a mark of quality and sophistication that rivals any luxury designation worldwide. His success paved the way for countless Italian designers and manufacturers to achieve international recognition.

The Armani name will continue to represent the pinnacle of Italian craftsmanship, style, and business acumen long after its founder’s passing. In an industry often characterized by rapid change and fleeting trends, Giorgio Armani created something permanent: a vision of elegance that will never go out of style.

As the fashion world says goodbye to one of its greatest visionaries, Giorgio Armani’s legacy lives on in every perfectly tailored jacket, every confident stride down a red carpet, and every person who understands that true style is about much more than clothes—it’s about expressing your best self to the world.