The global fashion industry was plunged into mourning this September with the passing of Giorgio Armani, the legendary designer who departed this world at the age of 91. While today’s fashion landscape is filled with an array of talented creatives, there remain only a select few who transcend the title of designer to stand as true masters of the craft. Armani was one such figure, a visionary whose influence reached far beyond the realm of clothing, shaping culture, cinema, lifestyle and, most importantly, the way we perceive elegance itself. Today, #legend_th reflects on why his passing represents such a profound loss, and why his legacy will remain immortal as an enduring source of inspiration for generations to come.
Armani’s career-defining journey began in 1975 in Milan, alongside his business partner Sergio Galeotti. Compared with historic maisons such as CHANEL, Louis Vuitton or Lanvin, houses boasting over a century of heritage, the Armani story is relatively young. Yet in just five decades, the brand became a catalyst of monumental change, reshaping not only womenswear and menswear, but also Hollywood cinema and global lifestyle culture.
The tastemaker
The Armani woman was never about flamboyance or ostentation. Instead, his designs were imbued with a distinctly Italian sensibility: understated luxury, effortless refinement, and meticulous craftsmanship. Beyond these qualities, Armani was instrumental in redefining women’s wardrobes. Much like Coco Chanel, who introduced trousers to women in the early 20th century, Armani brought masculine codes into womenswear, reinterpreting suits and blazers to align seamlessly with the female form.
Yet Armani’s vision of femininity was far from austere. Through Armani Privé, his haute couture line, he captivated women across the world. Time and again, at the Met Gala and on red carpets of the most challenging themes, his creations stood out as armour for modern goddesses, gowns of quiet grandeur, subtle ingenuity and undeniable allure. His work set a new standard of beauty: sophistication that never shouted, but always spoke volumes.
Redefining Menswear
Armani’s contribution to menswear is nothing short of revolutionary. Prior to his influence, the definition of a fine suit was synonymous with rigid tailoring: structured shoulders, sharp lines, and an emphasis on a stoic masculinity championed by Savile Row’s elite houses such as Huntsman, Gieves & Hawkes, or Edward Sexton.
But Armani challenged this orthodoxy. In the 1980s, he proposed an entirely new philosophy that suit should not be a man’s armour, but rather his “second skin.” This led to the birth of unconstructed tailoring, softly draped jackets stripped of unnecessary padding, allowing fluidity, comfort and a natural silhouette. Today, such ideas may seem intuitive, but at the time, they represented nothing less than a seismic shift in sartorial design. By the 1990s, the fashion world referred to this era simply as the Armani Era, a testament to his unparalleled influence.
A Cinematic Affair
Armani’s legacy was not confined to the runway. He also left an indelible mark on cinema, forging a profound bond with Hollywood. His costumes became part of film history, including Richard Gere’s sleek wardrobe in American Gigolo (1980), Brad Pitt’s dinner jacket in Quentin Tarantino’s Inglourious Basterds (2009), Christian Bale’s Bruce Wayne in The Dark Knight (2008) and The Dark Knight Rises (2012), and Leonardo DiCaprio’s Jordan Belfort in The Wolf of Wall Street (2013).
These collaborations not only elevated the characters but cemented Armani’s reputation as the designer of choice for Hollywood’s elite. His later partnership with Martin Scorsese and the Armani x Kith collection in 2024 underscored his timeless relevance and ability to adapt across generations.
A Lifestyle Visionary
For Armani, beauty extended beyond garments. He envisioned a complete lifestyle, a philosophy realised through Armani Casa, the homeware line launched in 2000. With over 40 showrooms worldwide, Armani Casa exemplifies how his refined aesthetic translates seamlessly from couture to interiors. His vision expanded further with Armani Hotels in Dubai and Milan. These properties embody his ethos in every detail, from architecture to furnishings, offering guests the opportunity to live entirely within the Armani world, a sanctuary of elegance, minimalism and discernment.
Five decades may seem brief compared to fashion’s longest-standing maisons, yet in that time, Armani achieved what many could not in a century. His work touched lives not only through clothing but through a philosophy of living defined by impeccable taste, uncompromising attention to detail, and a deep understanding of what it means to embody style. Giorgio Armani was not merely a designer. He was a cultural architect, a visionary of life itself, of how one could move, dress, live and inspire. His passing leaves a void, yet his influence will endure, etched into the DNA of fashion and beyond. The man may be gone, but the legend remains eternal.
The Real. The Legend. The Legacy. Giorgio Armani.
Photography Courtesy of Armani, IMDB, and Press
