Goodbye, Giorgio Armani. Photo @giorgioarmani
Sad news today, the world has lost a true fashion icon. Mr. Armani forever changed the way we dress. Although he began with menswear, the impact he made on fashion was extraordinary. Suddenly, “pants” are acceptable everywhere. Even La Côte Basque, which famously banned pantsuits, eventually succumbed.
In Milan, Armani didn’t just stop at clothing; he opened a hotel, a furniture design studio, a housewares and furniture department, and a restaurant. Recently, the stunning new Armani building opened at 760 Madison Avenue, featuring a boutique, restaurant, Armani/Casa, and very grand apartments.
Armani Privé is opening soon. There will even be custom-made fragrances. The haute couture Privé collection only began 20 years ago. Mr. Armani’s final appearance on the runway was at the 2025 défilé.
Armani’s History
Armani was born on July 11, 1934, in Piacenza, Italy, the son of a shipping manager. He initially intended to become a doctor but left medical school to pursue a career in fashion.
Although I may not have done Armani full justice when I wore his designs, I’ll never forget the time I had dinner with Givenchy while wearing a Giorgio Armani silk flowered organza pantsuit. It looked amazing and chic. Obviously, le grand Hubert thought so too.
Madison Avenue and fashion-conscious ladies were captivated by Armani. Though not all had the figures for his sleek silhouettes, they certainly had the funds. The U.S. market was ripe for Armani’s style; American women are always searching for the next great designer.
The Armani brand has remained privately held to this day. He began his career at La Rinascente department store in Milan, and later worked for Cerruti designing menswear. In 1975, with the support of his friend and personal/business partner Sergio Galeotti, Armani launched his own label of ready-to-wear clothing for both men and women. His signature look, unstructured, with soft shoulders, marked a radical shift in fashion at the time.
Eventually, his company expanded into a full luxury lifestyle brand.
Armani came to the U.S. early on. One of the first stores to carry his designs was Barneys, then still located downtown on West 17th Street and 7th Avenue, long before it moved uptown or Chelsea became fashionable.
The world has lost a gem!