Giorgio Armani unveils late designer’s last collection

Italian fashion house Giorgio Armani unveiled on Sunday the last collection personally worked on by its late designer and founder, at Brera art museum in the heart of Milan.

Armani, known in the fashion world as “King Giorgio,” passed away earlier this month at the age of 91.

The show, conceived to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the fashion house, turned into a tribute to the late designer.

The event drew a host of celebrities including actors Richard Gere and Cate Blanchett and was held in the cloister of the Brera art museum, adorned with lanterns for the occasion.

Models walked under the porticoes in fluid, lightweight outfits, accompanied by live piano music performed by Italian composer Ludovico Einaudi.

The collection, featuring a color palette that ranged from grey to deep blue to dark green, was titled “Pantelleria, Milan”, referencing two places dear to the designer.

“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 brand said in the press notes.

The show concluded with a solo walk by Agnese Zogla, one of the designer’s favourite models, who wore an elegant blue gown.

At the end of the catwalk, Armani’s niece Silvana and the designer’s life and business partner Leo Dell’Orco – respectively head of design for the women’s and men’s collections – came out to greet the audience and were met with lengthy applause.

“I’m… humbled that we were invited to come back to Milano to celebrate his excellency”, said director Spike Lee upon entering the show.

“Apart from being an incredible designer, he was a humanitarian. He was an incredible philanthropist”, said Blanchett.

Giorgio Armani’s catwalk show closed Milan Fashion Week, with fashionistas now heading to Paris for the next round of shows.