Giorgio Armani Was the Last Great Gentleman of Fashion
The courtly billionaire designer, who died this week at 91, transformed Italian fashion while remaining defiantly independent.
By Dana Thomas for Bloomberg
September 5, 2025
Italian fashion designer Giorgio Armani, who died at home in Milan yesterday at 91, was what the French call “un grand monsieur”—a great gentleman. Yes, he ran a multibillion-dollar global corporation that included fashion from jeans to couture, homeware, hotels, restaurants, beauty—even flowers. And he had a slew of gorgeous homes in gorgeous places, like Saint-Tropez, where he’d spend July, and the Italian island of Pantelleria, where he’d go in August, as well as a 65-meter (213-foot) superyacht, Main, on which he cruised the Mediterranean.
But there is far more to his greatness than immense power and wealth. Mr. Armani (it was always Mr. Armani) commanded a level of respect—even reverence—rarely seen in the business. Unlike so very many of his confreres, Mr. Armani did not instill fear in his subordinates, nor did he behave like a diva. He had a quiet, medi…
