Beyond Armani: A Legacy That Never Ages

A few weeks ago, along with the usual copy of Vanity Fair, I received an unexpected surprise: an entirely black cover. An unusual detail for the magazine, one that immediately caught my attention.

A simple tribute on the cover would have seemed opportunistic; a summary article about his influence on the world of fashion, too reductive. That’s why the editorial team chose a more ambitious approach: to dedicate a special issue to Giorgio Armani. One capable of retracing his life, celebrating his most significant achievements, and telling the story of the legacy he left to the world of fashion and beyond.

After a long battle with severe hepatitis, on September 4th, 2025, the King of Fashion left us. But, as in his career, he had foreseen everything. His vision never stopped at the present and the future of his maison is the clearest proof of that.

«Simplicity is never the starting point, but always the point of arrival»

I’ve never been particularly fond of luxury brands, and yet Giorgio Armani always had my sympathy. Perhaps because of our shared addiction for Coco Chanel, and the necessary intervention both brought to women’s fashion. But more than anything, what fascinated me about him was his authenticity.

Armani never pretended to have a childhood obsession with clothes, nor did he construct around himself the fairy tale of a predestined genius. His story isn’t the romantic script of a Disney film, with a shy, misunderstood boy sketching dresses in a corner.

Quite the opposite. After earning a science diploma, he chose to study medicine — far removed from the glamour of the runways he would later learn to redefine.

Indissolubly linked to Milan, the city that saw him grow and rise to fame, Giorgio Armani nonetheless found his true dimension elsewhere.

Not in palaces, nor in the so-called “fashion quadrilateral,” but far from excess, in his country home in Pantelleria, Sicily, where he designed his first collection, and likely, many of the ones that followed.

In 1975, at forty, he founded the maison that bears his name. His first men’s collection did not achieve the success he had hoped for, yet Armani often recalled with tenderness the naïve, humble beauty of those beginnings: «We printed the fabrics by pressing markers onto them. Things were very poor, I must be honest.»

«Elegance is not about being noticed, but about being remembered»

Armani was the first to introduce the power dressing, creating garments that expressed authority and refinement, especially for women. His designs were not only aesthetically pleasing but functional, allowing those who wore them to feel comfortable and confident. His innovative use of materials such as jersey and silk, combined with impeccable cuts, redefined both men’s and women’s fashion, making his brand synonymous with elegance and ease.

Beyond fashion, Armani had a significant impact on cinema, dressing actors and actresses in iconic films.

He made his film debut in 1980, dressing the unforgettable Richard Gere in American Gigolo. With his signature grey–greige suit, the actor elevated the brand’s name, cementing Armani’s image as a symbol of glamour and sophistication.

His creations became part of pop culture, defining the image of an era.

Armani also dressed stars such as Leonardo DiCaprio in The Wolf of Wall Street, reinforcing the link between his brand and Hollywood glamour. The famous blue pinstripe suit with the red tie became a timeless classic, one that marked its generation and those that followed.

Armani’s distinctive style continues to influence designers and brands around the world. His aesthetic vision created a new standard of elegance, inspiring generations of creatives.

«I don’t design to astonish, but to endure»

Whether or not it was his goal, Giorgio Armani established himself in the fashion world as the natural heir to Coco Chanel. Like her, he made simplicity and elegance his signature, turning them into a universal language. His neutral, sophisticated tones made his garments instantly recognizable, destined for a timeless elegance.

The Spring–Summer 2020 collection is a perfect example: delicate palettes and fluid silhouettes that show how Armani managed to remain faithful to his classicism while engaging with modernity.

His talent was recognized many times, with numerous awards and honors, including the prestigious Council of Fashion Designers of America Award in 1987 and the Légion d’Honneur in France. These accolades attest to his importance and contribution to the industry — not only as a designer, but as an entrepreneur and innovator.

«Respect and attention for people and for reality. That’s where everything begins»

Today, the maison looks forward without betraying its origins.

There will be no sale, no merger: Armani stays Armani.

With the appointment of new designers and a renewed creative direction, the brand is ready to write a new chapter, emboding the values of elegance and restraint that Giorgio Armani defended throughout his life. At the top, new voices — young and curious — are bringing a fresh, contemporary perspective, yet always following the path he traced: rigor, moderation, respect.

While the future of the maison is forward-looking, its heart remains anchored to a key principle: responsibility. In an industry where the word “sustainability” often risks becoming an empty slogan, Armani chose to give it substance. The brand is investing in recycled materials, low-impact production processes, and transparent supply chains, with the goal of minimizing its environmental footprint.

After all, that’s exactly what Armani himself would have wanted. He never hid his distance from the contemporary concept of “fashion,” too often synonymous with fast consumption and ostentation. His idea was different: to dress reality, not disguise it.

As early as 2021, the Armani Exchange line had already taken an important step in this direction, focusing on eco-compatible fabrics and more ethical production methods. Today, that vision has evolved into a broader strategy: making sustainability not a trend, but a permanent value.

Meanwhile, the maison faces a new challenge: the digital world. With the growth of e-commerce and the rising influence of social media, Armani has chosen to inhabit this space with intelligence and restraint.

Campaigns like Armani Beauty have successfully connected with a global audience through platforms such as Instagram and TikTok. Targeted collaborations with influencers and content creators don’t betray the brand’s philosophy but reinterpret it — making a world long associated with discretion and allure more accessible, without diluting its essence.

Giorgio Armani was not just a designer; he was a builder of language. He taught us that elegance is not a way of showing off, but a way of being in the world. And today, as the maison prepares to write its next chapter, his spirit remains the guiding light: balance, authenticity, sobriety.

As the house of fashion moves toward the future, the horizon looks bright — with a renewed commitment to innovation and sustainability that will continue to inspire the industry. Armani’s vision will remain a beacon for fashion, guiding the maison to new heights and ensuring that his spirit lives on in the collections yet to come.

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