Hollywood Icons Honor Giorgio Armani in Final Milan Show
UPDATE: Hollywood stars including Cate Blanchett, Glenn Close, and Richard Gere gathered in Milan on Sunday for a poignant tribute to legendary designer Giorgio Armani, marking the final collection he worked on before his death on September 4 at the age of 91. Originally planned as a celebration of 50 years of Armani’s fashion house, the event transformed into a heartfelt homage to a style icon.
The show took place at the prestigious Pinacoteca di Brera, where over 120 of Armani’s creations are showcased as part of an anniversary exhibition. The atmosphere was charged with emotion as models walked under historic porticos, adorned with paper lanterns reminiscent of the public viewing of Armani’s body earlier this month.
“This moment, this atmosphere speaks for itself. There’s a lot of memories here tonight,” Blanchett told AFP, underscoring the significance of the occasion. The collection drew inspiration from two crucial locations for Armani: the city of Milan and the remote volcanic island of Pantelleria, where he spent cherished moments.
Featured designs included a stunning array of classic tailored suits and dazzling red-carpet dresses in shades of neutral, green, blue, and purple, reflecting the light, earth, and sea. “Everything appears fluid, light, as if ready to yield to the island’s winds,” the label stated in the show notes, capturing the essence of Armani’s artistry.
Models who had walked for Armani over the last five decades were brought back to embody his vision of femininity, adding a layer of nostalgia to the presentation. Following the show, guests were invited to explore the exhibition, featuring iconic outfits alongside masterpieces of Italian art, including Gere’s suit from the film American Gigolo, which catapulted both the actor and Armani into the limelight.
Other notable attendees included Lauren Hutton, Samuel L. Jackson, James Norton, Tony Servillo, Zhang Ziyi, and director Spike Lee, who reflected on Armani as a “Renaissance man.” Guests received a white t-shirt featuring Armani’s image as a memento, while the final dress—a sweeping blue glittering gown—drew a standing ovation from the 700 attendees.
At the end of the show, Armani’s niece, Silvana Armani, and his partner and collaborator, Leo Dell’Orco, took a bow, moving many to tears. “This collection, the last Giorgio Armani worked on personally, is in some ways a testament to style and the close of a cycle, so that new ones may begin,” the group stated.
Despite health challenges that had kept him from some shows this summer, Armani maintained close communication with his team. In his will, he expressed a desire for his billion-dollar fashion empire—spanning haute couture to hotels—to be sold to a major fashion group or to go public.
Sunday’s show marked a poignant conclusion to Milan Fashion Week, although the program continues until Monday, showcasing collections from top Italian designers including Prada, Gucci, Fendi, and Dolce & Gabbana. The legacy of Giorgio Armani, a titan of the fashion world, will undoubtedly endure as a source of inspiration for generations to come.
