Giorgio Armani dies at 91: What’s the legacy he left behind?

The fashion world is in mourning as we receive the devastating news from The Armani group today that the brilliantly talented Giorgio Armani has now passed. Leaving behind not only a fashion empire for himself but also creating an entirely new way to express fashion, making it louder than ever before. Armani didn’t just have an eye for fashion. He pushed the boundaries of what people thought it could be. Having the ability to make minimalism loud. Powerful. Through redefining the meaning of tailoring to empowering modern women through his unwavering determination to his work.

Today, we cannot just Mourn Giorgio Armani; we are to celebrate the legacy he left in our hands to continually reshape fashion forever in his honour.

Armani’s revelation began in the 1970s, when he shied away from the restrictive, stiff and dare I say uncomfortable tailoring to relaxed, unstructured jackets. Suddenly, men no longer had to be trapped behind the stitches of a solidified blazer. Women could enter a boardroom with impact as well as a streamlined suit on their backs.

And we cannot forget the great surge of power suits reformed in the 1980s, designed with power-padded shoulders and all-around oversized silhouettes, which not only emphasise one’s demeanour but were a pinnacle of changing societal roles forever. This was the pure essence of Armani’s influence, providing women with an entirely new way to gain the authority needed in work environments and a symbol to strive for success. 

(Image sourced through Armani Group official Instagram @giorgioarmani.)

Armani’s influence wasn’t just for the office, no. he reached so much more beyond that, landing himself in the place where it all happened.  Becoming the designer for Hollywood’s most beloved celebrities, intertwining his name with the red carpet, Oscars, Academy Awards- you name it, Armani’s name is most likely all over it. Stars across the globe didn’t just wear his garments. They embodied it so effortlessly as he intended.

And just like that, five decades went by. Armani not only created a brand. It was an empire, creating his own prestigious fashion house, Emporio Armani, Armani Prive, fragrances, luxury hotels and even making it into revolutionary timelines over the years. No matter how far the Armani name was stretched out to the vision was always crystal clear, and he vowed to keep his work consistent with chic minimalism and refined art and forever powerful. 

Giorgio Armani was a fashion designer by trade, but an eternal force of movement in life. His influence is forever embedded in every perfectly imperfect blazer, the peace of mind knowing that less can be more, and every suit striding into a boardroom speaks so powerfully. As we say our goodbyes to Giorgio Armani, we must remind ourselves that he may have left us, but his presence will never fade. 

Written by Emily Ayse Jemal,