When you think of the power suit, the red carpet, or the quiet confidence of Italian style, one name instantly comes to mind: Giorgio Armani. The designer who passed away at 91 on September 4, wasn’t just a fashion icon — he was a cultural force, a quiet revolutionary who reshaped the way the world dresses, thinks about clothing, and even perceives gender and power.

THE MAN

Born in Piacenza, northern Italy, in 1934, Armani came of age in a world still reeling from war. Hunger, loss, and chaos marked his early life, teaching him that glamour was fleeting — and that elegance had to serve more than just appearances. These lessons would later inform every seam and silhouette he crafted. It was Sergio Galeotti — Armani’s romantic partner for over a decade (in the 60s) — who encouraged him to build not just a brand, but a lifestyle. In later interviews, Armani admitted that his greatest regret was “not being able to save” Galeotti, who died of AIDS in the 1980s.

Armani didn’t study fashion in a traditional sense. He began as a window dresser at Milan’s La Rinascente, learning firsthand what customers wanted and how fabrics behaved. This ground-up education gave him an acute understanding of tailoring and wearability — knowledge that would underpin every revolutionary design he would create.

REINVENTION & POWER SUITS

In the 1970s, suits were stiff, structured, and intimidating. Armani changed all that. He softened menswear, giving it fluidity, ease, and sensuality without sacrificing elegance. At the same time, he hardened women’s clothing — power suits that allowed women to step into the workplace with confidence, dignity, and style. As women started stepping out of their homes for work, Armani saw an opportunity to dress them in a way that made their contemporaries view them as equals. The power shoulders and neat silhouettes continued to be a signature of Armani’s ensembles and made a mark in the most recent fall 2025 collection. Armani didn’t just make clothes; he made statements about society, gender, and authority.

Armani understood that fashion was inseparable from social change. With more women entering the workforce in the late 20th century, he created designs that exuded femininity while asserting authority. Tailored blazers, elegant trousers, and fluid lines became tools of empowerment. From Diane Keaton’s Oscar-winning look in Annie Hall to Jodie Foster’s 1990 Academy Awards suit, Armani proved that clothing could be both beautiful and transformative. The last public picture captured of Lady Diana saw her wearing an Armani blazer with King Charles.

FILMS

Soon after his popularity in Milan, his loyal customers spread in the film fraternity. Richard Gere’s wardrobe in American Gigolo (1980) became an iconic example. Armani’s suits weren’t just outfits; they were extensions of character, projecting charm, power, and subtle rebellion. Hollywood quickly followed, and Armani’s influence rippled across the red carpet, turning the Oscars and premieres into global showcases for Italian elegance. At one point, the Academy Awards came to be known as the Armani Awards for insiders.

Armani also designed the wardrobe for The Untouchables and The Dark Knight. The costume designer for The Wolf of Wall Street credits outfits to the archives of Armani and two of the suits worn by Leonardo DiCaprio came from the designer himself. Later, of course, all Hollywood bigwigs including Brad Pitt, Tom Cruise, Cate Blanchett, Julia Roberts, Diane Keaton, Jennifer Aniston, Angelina Jolie, Benedict Cumberbatch, Demi Moore, Cillian Murphy, Zendaya, Rihanna, and more have worn the designer on multiple occasions.

Beyond Fashion: The Armani Lifestyle

Armani didn’t stop at suits. He expanded into lifestyle branding: Emporio Armani, Armani Jeans, fragrances, eyewear, sportswear, and even hotel interiors. Every piece, every line, reflected his philosophy of timeless elegance. He refused to sell creative control, building an empire worth over $10 billion, that stayed true to his vision. Armani’s influence wasn’t about fleeting trends — it was about shaping how people inhabit the world, from boardrooms to ballrooms.

The Revolutionary

Armani was ahead of his time in more ways than one. When the fashion industry still glorified extreme thinness, he refused to work with dangerously underweight models after one died of anorexia. He believed style should celebrate the individual, letting personality shine through the clothes rather than overshadow it. “Style,” he said, “is not about being noticed. It’s about being remembered.”

Through nearly seven decades of work, Giorgio Armani transformed the way people think about elegance, power, and personal style. He blurred the lines between masculine and feminine, brought sophistication to casualwear, and elevated red carpet dressing into an art form. Designers, celebrities, and everyday people alike continue to draw inspiration from his work.

In Armani’s world, fashion was never just about fabric — it was about identity, confidence, and freedom. That is why, as the world mourns the passing of this extraordinary designer, his influence will remain eternal: in every tailored suit, in every red-carpet gown, and in every individual who dares to dress with elegance and purpose.