REMEMBERING GIORGIO ARMANI

IN THE WAKE OF THE DESIGNER'S PASSING, AND UPON ARMANI'S 50-YEAR ANNIVERSARY, AN EXHIBITION AT THE PINACOTERA DI BRERA LOOKS BACK ON A LIFETIME OF LEGENDARY WORK

By Morgan Becker

The world received the news that Giorgio Armani—legendary designer, indefatigable spirit—had passed on the eve of the house’s 50-year anniversary. He’ll be regarded forever as one fashion’s most influential minds: reinventing men’s suiting; adapting it to the woman’s silhouette; rendering Italian tailoring accessible and covetable all over the world, from the boardroom to the sets of Hollywood to the runways of Europe and beyond.

It’s bittersweet that Mr. Armani wasn’t able to witness such a milestone at the company he founded. Sources close to him report that he “worked until his final days”—so in a sense, he did reach that full circle moment; the house had been collaborating with Milan’s Pinacoteca di Brera to host, for the first time, an exhibition spanning Armani’s “stylistic journey.” Milano, Per Amore places archival garments in conversation with masterpieces of Italian art, dating back to the Middle Ages. It’s a retrospective, but also an opportunity to see Armani in conversation with the culture it’s so intimately tied to. Explains Angelo Crespi, Brera’s Director: “Giorgio Armani represents one of the highest pinnacles of Italian creativity, expressed in the essentiality of and rigour of form… He is also the most emblematic expression of the culture of Brera, a unique place in the world where art, research and innovation have been practised for five hundred years.”

The gallery is home, through January 11, to more than 120 of Mr. Armani’s designs. They’re selected and installed to reflect the coherent evolution of the house of Armani, as it reimagined workwear, pushed the boundaries of classic palettes and adornments, and instilled in the world an appreciation for both craftsmanship and sartorial innovation.

For those far from Milan, Beyond Noise shares a selection of images from the exhibition, interspersed with quotes from our friends and collaborators on Giorgio Armani’s indelible legacy.

JAY TIBBITTS, FASHION COMMENTATOR

Looking back on Mr. Armani’s life and legacy, what stands out is the quiet revolution he sparked in contemporary dressing. He reshaped the very meaning of elegance, for men and women, while building a global empire grounded in the purity of clothing itself. At a time when fashion leans so heavily on accessories and beauty, he proved that the suit and the dress could still be the foundation of an extraordinary business and a lasting legacy.

PAUL SINCLAIRE, STYLIST

Armani, a singular voice. During my years at American Vogue—I think it was around 1985 or ’96—I remember clearly Grace Mirabella, Jade Hobson, and Carlyne Cerf de Dudzeele all walking in in that extraordinary, unconstructed double-breasted weightless jacket. It was magic. Each woman wore it in her own way. Each one looked timeless and chic. In the ’90s, during my time at L’Uomo Vogue and Vogue Italy, I was always being asked, “Mr. Armani would love you to do a special on his clothes.” His legacy will be that, with a singular voice. He marched to a tune that never wavered, and in the end, he was never not relevant.

ANDERS CHRISTIAN MADSEN, FASHION CRITIC

I was fortunate to spend real time with Mr. Armani over the years. I’ve been told we had good chemistry. Maybe we kind of clicked. I loved his poker face. He’d look terrifying until suddenly he’d break into a huge smile. He had a wicked sense of humour. Sometimes he’d say the most cutting things about other people’s work, but also, he knew his opinions were old-fashioned and he enjoyed playing to that character. He cracked me up. I love being around people who are older than me, and I love people who are larger-than-life. Mr. Armani was the perfect company. I’m so grateful to Anoushka Borghesi, who was responsible for all the time I spent with him. I’ll miss his charm and grace. I’ll miss his cheeky winks a lot.

GIUSEPPE ZANOTTI, DESIGNER

I remember a man of extraordinary refinement, someone who was always fully present in his work. In Milan, I would often run into Giorgio, completely absorbed as he studied his shop windows, just around the corner from my showroom. He was such a sensitive soul, with an elegance that went far beyond mere appearances—you could breathe it in at his receptions, in his home, on his boat. Losing him feels like losing a piece of what makes this job so meaningful to those of us who truly love it. But his legacy remains a precious lesson: Fashion demands real sacrifice and unwavering discipline. Giorgio understood better than anyone that, without that rigor, creativity can never reach its full potential. In showing us this truth, he was truly our master.

ALEXANDRA CARL, STYLIST

He was the perfect example that the loudest voice in the room doesn’t necessarily have the most impact—a reverent visionaire who never followed trends but defined them.

ANNE-LISE CREMONA, PERFUMIER

Today, like so many others, I find myself in mourning, even though I only crossed paths with him a handful of times… As I often say, we were neighbours. Neighbours on Avenue Montaigne, where the Henry Jacques boutique extended from his—but above all, neighbours on a secluded cove on the beautiful rock of Pantelleria, set in the heart of the Mediterranean. Like him, I fell in love with the raw, wild, and minimalist spirit of the island’s northern side. Our houses face the sea, nestled within a vast natural park, immersed in volcanic rock. We would walk the same ancient Roman paths. As he himself, I have felt that visceral need to reconnect there, carried away by the very same emotions he so often and so beautifully described. Each year, as August began, the small port of Gadir awoke with a familiar excitement... Armani was coming. His presence in Pantelleria is everywhere in the words of those who knew him, in the eyes of his loved ones, always marked by respect and unanimous admiration. On a personal level, he will remain both a role model and a profound source of inspiration. He embodied that rare combination of creativity, entrepreneurial spirit, and humanity that I have encountered only twice in my life. His vision was crystal clear, unwavering. He mastered elegance, style, discretion, noble materials, and an unparalleled sense of detail. These are the very values I strive for every day. You will be dearly missed, Mr. Armani.

DONATELLA VERSACE

The world has lost a giant. Giorgio Armani changed history with fashion. He defined style all over the world for generations, and was a true genius, a master of class and elegance. He will be missed forever but his style is eternal.

FABIEN BARON, CREATIVE DIRECTOR

I first met Giorgio Armani in 1988. I was just 27 at the time and I ended up in the Maestro’s office, showing him the first issue of Italian Vogue with Franca Sozzani. Much to my good luck, I wound up later working closely with Giorgio for two decades while developing his fragrance and beauty brand. To embrace his vision meant to be committed to his rules; you did not work with Giorgio, but for Giorgio. At heart, he was a disciplined minimalist, deeply entrenched in his convictions. What he gave back was a gift of knowledge, dedication to excellence, refined elegance, and a unique commitment to his own extraordinary vision. From my perspective, for all his minimalist perfectionism, he was also a Romantic. A soft and gentle soul, as delicate as his fabrics.

LUKE AND LUCIE MEIER, DESIGNERS

He was so ultimately respected. Always driven, always focused, always elegant. He was a constant, a pillar in the world of creation and design. He was singular, and his respect for himself and his approach had no compromise. It’s quite difficult to imagine just how miraculous his journey has been. To say he is an inspiration is an incredible understatement. We connect deeply with his vision and how he created such a beautiful and vibrant world. He will be deeply missed.

KRISTEN MCMENAMY, MODEL

For me, Giorgio Armani represented the height of class. To work with him meant that you were in the fold of the chosen ones. Unfortunately, I never personally got to work with the man himself, but have done Armani campaigns and worn many of his creations on shoots. You put on an Armani design and you’re suddenly an uptown grown-up, perfectly and beautifully suited. The Icon of all Icons.