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Giorgio Armani, the Italian fashion designer whose name became synonymous with elegance, precision, and power, has died at the age of 91. Over a career that spanned more than six decades, Armani changed the language of fashion—removing stiffness from men’s tailoring, empowering women with refined suits, and leaving an unmistakable mark on red carpet culture.

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Born in 1934 in Piacenza, northern Italy, Armani came from humble beginnings shaped by war and scarcity. He originally pursued medicine and served in the army before beginning his career in fashion as a window dresser. It was there, on the shop floor, that Armani’s acute understanding of fabric, form, and what people wanted to wear was forged. Rising through the ranks, he became a buyer, then a designer, eventually working for Nino Cerruti before founding his own label in 1975 with his partner Sergio Galeotti.

Together, they built an empire that challenged convention. Armani softened menswear—introducing more fluid shapes and luxurious fabrics—and hardened womenswear, with sharply tailored suits that reflected women’s growing presence in the workplace. His designs communicated quiet power and modernity, worn by some of the most influential figures of the 20th and 21st centuries.

Hollywood embraced his vision early on. In 1980, Richard Gere wore Armani in American Gigolo, launching the designer into global stardom. From there, he became a red carpet mainstay, dressing stars like Julia Roberts, Cate Blanchett, Zendaya, and Russell Crowe. He created stage outfits for Lady Gaga and film costumes for The Untouchables and The Wolf of Wall Street. Armani understood better than anyone that image was power—and his garments delivered it.

He was also a man of principle. In 2006, he became the first designer to ban underweight models from his runway shows, following the tragic death of Ana Carolina Reston. His business remained fiercely independent, resisting outside investment while expanding into beauty, fragrance, hotels, music, and sport. With annual revenues exceeding £2bn and a personal fortune estimated at $13bn, Armani was one of the last great independently owned fashion houses in the world.

Tributes poured in from across the globe. Donatella Versace called him “a giant,” Julia Roberts described him as “a true friend,” and British designer Paul Smith praised his “staying power” and “down-to-earth nature.” Actor Russell Crowe recalled Armani being present for many significant moments in his life, while Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni called him “an icon, a tireless worker, a symbol of the best of Italy.”

Even in his final years, Armani remained creatively active, presenting his last collection remotely from Milan in July 2025. His March show earlier that year was a call for global harmony—his design always reflecting the times, always evolving with the world.

Behind the discipline and minimalism was a deeply private man who lived with quiet intensity. He swam daily in a specially designed pool just one yard wide. He worked tirelessly, never satisfied, always in pursuit of perfection. Armani once said, “I never give up until I’ve achieved the results I want.”

He is survived by the brand he built, the style he transformed, and a legacy woven not only into fabric but into the very way people see themselves. Giorgio Armani wasn’t just a designer—he was a revolutionary. And he will be remembered as one of the greatest ever to shape the world of fashion.