During his lifetime, Giorgio Armani took a bow after his fashion shows around 180 times at the striking Tadao Ando-designed theater he opened in 2001. Mr. Armani, who passed away on Thursday at the age of 91, was brought back to that runway one last time this morning for his lying in state.
As a living force in fashion, Mr. Armani had few equals, and arguably no one who matched his influence. Today in Milan, the power of his legacy—the sum of his life’s work and impact, now that he is gone—began to reveal itself. To me, it felt like the beginning of what Ralph Lauren called “foreverness” in his tribute to the great Italian designer. As Milan’s mayor, Giuseppe Sala, said this morning: “It will be impossible to forget him.”
Mayor Sala was among the first in line when the public viewing of Mr. Armani’s coffin began. Ten minutes earlier, the queue was already several people wide and stretched about 150 meters down Via Bergognone. More people arrived every minute.
At 9 a.m., what would effectively be three days of mourning for Mr. Armani in Milan began: the line started to move. There were actually two queues—one for members of the public wishing to pay their respects, and another for hundreds of Armani employees, who were respectfully fast-tracked.
The two lines met at the entrance to the Armani/Teatro. We moved slowly up the sunlit corridor. As the hallway opened into the atrium, some visitors added to the already abundant floral tributes on the left, while others wrote messages in the six open books of remembrance on the right. There were tears and many hugs, but no drama—just an overwhelming sense of respect. Then it was time to enter.
It was undeniably strange, poignant, and powerful to be briefly in Mr. Armani’s presence one last time—in the same space where we had seen him present so many collections, take so many bows, and share so many opinions. The room was softly lit with flickering lanterns, his favorite evening decoration. Ludovico Einaudi’s moving piano piece, “Nuvole Bianche”—Mr. Armani’s own choice—played in the background.
Mr. Armani’s closed coffin was adorned with a bouquet of white lilies and flanked by four Milanese carabinieri in full ceremonial uniform, complete with swords. Behind it stood the flag of Milan, a mark of honor. Nearby, on a table, rested a large, abstractly carved piece of crystal—a sculpture Mr. Armani had apparently kept by his bedside for many years. Each visitor was given a moment to approach the coffin, touch it briefly, and offer a thought or prayer.
Chairs were set aside for Mr. Armani’s closest family and friends to keep vigil. This morning, they included his nephew, Andrea Camarena, and his longtime partner and menswear director, Leo Dell’Orco. Other family and friends will share the sad honor of sitting with him today and tomorrow, before his private funeral on Monday.
Along with Mayor Sala, others paying their respects on Saturday morning included veteran fashion entrepreneur Mario Boselli, Donatella Versace, Tommaso Sacchi, Carlo Capasa, John Elkann, Angela Missoni, Sara Maino, and Carla Sozzani. As she left, Missoni paused to say: “He was Giorgio: the first star, the first true imprenditore. We had great mutual respect, and I think even affection. He was very human and very sweet—he wrote to me when my mom died. He was lucky to live a full life, with his mind and body intact. What more could you wish for?”
Yesterday and today, the “necrologi,” or death notices, have…In Milan, the pages of the Corriere Della Sera newspaper have been filled with several pages of personal tributes to Giorgio Armani. This traditional gesture of respect has been extended by Valentino Garavani and Giancarlo Giammetti, Paola Fendi, Miuccia Prada and Patrizio and Lorenzo Bertelli, Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana, the Vivienne Westwood company, Remo Ruffini, Stefano Pilati, Gildo Zegna, Luca Guadagnino, Ralph Lauren and his family, the Benetton family, and many other individuals, families, and institutions.
Before his sudden decline and passing last week, Mr. Armani’s next scheduled event at his Teatro was set for September 28. He had been due to present a show marking the 50th anniversary of his company, founded in July 1975. It is understood that this show will still take place, honoring the final collection he led the design of and serving as a further celebration of his life and legacy. In a season full of designer debuts, this posthumous finale is set to be a particularly poignant moment.
Giorgio Armani is already deeply woven into the fabric of Milan. There is the Armani/Silos museum, the Armani Hotel, the ever-present Armani billboards in Brera, and the Emporio Armani sign that every plane landing at Linate has passed since 1996. Without a doubt, Milan will find it impossible to forget him—and it would not want to. Today, inside the Armani/Teatro, a quote from the man himself was projected on the wall alongside an image of him on the runway in his prime: “The mark I hope to leave is one of commitment, respect, and care for people and for reality. It is from this that everything begins.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Of course Here is a list of FAQs about Milan Will Never Forget Giorgio Armani designed to sound natural and provide clear direct answers
General Beginner Questions
Q What does Milan Will Never Forget Giorgio Armani mean
A Its a phrase expressing the immense and lasting impact the fashion designer Giorgio Armani has had on the city of Milan He helped define its modern identity as a global fashion capital
Q Who is Giorgio Armani
A He is one of the most famous and influential Italian fashion designers of all time He founded the Armani fashion house known for its timeless elegant and sophisticated style
Q Why is he so important to Milan specifically
A In the 1980s Armanis success put Milan on the map as a serious rival to Paris in the fashion world His clean powerful aesthetic came to define Made in Italy luxury and transformed the citys cultural and economic landscape
Q Is Milan Will Never Forget an official slogan or campaign
A Its more of a popular sentiment or a powerful saying rather than an official campaign It captures the deep gratitude and respect the city holds for him
Advanced Detailed Questions
Q What were some of Armanis key contributions that changed Milan
A Key contributions include
Defining a new aesthetic Moving away from flashy logos to understated deconstructed power suits and elegant evening wear
Economic impact Building a multibillion dollar empire headquartered in Milan creating jobs and attracting global attention
Cultural influence His designs were iconic in films like American Gigolo cementing Milans cool factor
Q How did Armanis style differ from other Italian designers at the time
A While Versace was known for bold glamour and Dolce Gabbana for Sicilian sensuality Armani championed a minimalist relaxed and sophisticated elegance He made luxury feel effortless and wearable
Q Besides clothing how else has Armani left his mark on the city
A His influence is everywhere
Architecture He designed the ArmaniSilos museum to house his archives
Hospitality He owns the Armani Hotel Milano