MILAN (AP) — 1000’s of admirers paid their final respects over the weekend to Giorgio Armani, remembered by Milan’s mayor as a “man of extraordinary class” who left an indelible mark on town and the worldwide trend world.
Armani died Thursday at 91 at his residence in Italy’s trend capital surrounded by family members, having labored till his closing days, in line with his trend home. One in every of his closing tasks was a runway present marking 50 years of his signature Giorgio Armani model, which is because of shut Milan Vogue Week later this month.
Greater than 15,000 mourners filed over two days by the Armani theater usually devoted to previewing runway collections. They included prime names in trend, politics, movie and sports activities — worlds with which Armani was intently entwined.
Donatella Versace left a bouquet of white flowers on Saturday, and her brother Santo Versace was in tears Sunday.
Contained in the theater, the place Armani took numerous bows, his casket was positioned amid rows of candle-lit paper lanterns that solid a shimmering mild. Piano music by Italian composer Ludovico Einaudi performed softly within the background and the scent of incense stuffed the air.
The closed coffin was adorned with a bouquet of long-stem white roses, and flanked by carabinieri honor guards in ceremonial costume. An alabaster sculpture of the crucifix pricey to Armani was positioned subsequent to the casket.
Outstanding mourners
Different designers who paid their respects included Dean and Dan Caten, the Canadian twin designers behind the Dsquared2 label; Ferrari artistic Rocco Iannone; British designer Neil Barrett and Italian designer Andrea Incontri.
The world of sport was represented by Olympic gold medal-winning swimmer Federica Pellegrini, retired AC Milan star Paolo Maldini and the president of the Italian Olympic Committee, Giovanni Malagò.
Two former premiers, Mario Monti and Matteo Renzi, paid their respects on Sunday.
Italian movie administrators Giuseppe Tornatore and Gabriele Salvatores, the composer Einaudi and Italian trend chamber president Carlo Capasa along with his brother, Costume Nationwide designer Ennio Capasa additionally bade Armani farewell.
A remembrance
Milan Mayor Giuseppe Sala was among the many first to reach, providing condolences to Leo Dell’Orco, Armani’s longtime collaborator and the top of menswear, who stood close to the coffin.
“A person of extraordinary class,’’ Sala informed reporters outdoors. “Milan is stuffed with indicators of Armani. It will likely be unimaginable to neglect him.”
Sala remembered a cellphone name from Armani in early August, when information of a corruption scandal within the metropolis broke.
“He mentioned, ‘I perceive this can be a tough second. There’s at all times one thing optimistic in tough moments. True pals present themselves. I’m your true good friend.’ This I’ll at all times keep in mind,’’ Sala mentioned.
Armani tributes
Many mourners introduced flowers to go away in remembrance, or wore items of Armani plucked from their wardrobes. Annamaria Longo Dorni traveled greater than two hours from Lago Maggiore, north of Milan, to pay her final respects sporting an Armani midnight blue jacket.
“You set it on, and also you’re good,’’ she mentioned in tribute. “It’s at all times updated, even after 20 years.’’
The outpouring by many extraordinary Milanese mirrored Armani’s shut ties to his adopted metropolis.
“Armani is Milan. He was an attractive individual inside who at all times gave quite a bit to Milan, in each second. It’s right to be right here to pay homage,’’ mentioned Silvana Proglio. “He was a terrific individual with a capital G.”
Armani and Milan
Milan’s Armani landmarks embody his Armani/Teatro present area and the Armani/Silos museum within the coronary heart of town’s design district, in addition to his residence and historic places of work within the metropolis middle, and his flagship shops and resort.
He was additionally a significant supporter of cultural establishments, like Milan’s Teatro alla Scala, and owned the Olympia Milan basketball workforce.
A distinguished everlasting Emporio Armani billboard greets passengers arriving at Milan’s Linate Airport, and Armani has lengthy occupied a everlasting billboard within the metropolis’s Brera district, emblematic of his mastery of visible communication and model presence.
Closing farewells
Armani missed Milan Fashion Week in June 2025 for the primary time in the course of the previews of Spring-Summer time 2026 menswear to get better from an undisclosed situation.
Condolences have poured in from pals and admirers all over the world, together with Ralph Lauren, Julia Roberts, Anna Wintour and Leonardo DiCaprio.
Armani left a closing message for mourners, projected within the theater subsequent to a photograph of the designer smiling and waving: “The mark I hope to go away is one in all dedication, respect and real take care of individuals and for actuality. That’s the place all the pieces actually begins.”
Following the general public mourning, Armani will likely be buried Monday in a non-public ceremony in his hometown of Piacenza province, southeast of Milan.
