From Halls to Runway: Honouring Giorgio Armani at Milan SS26 and Brera

The passing of Giorgio Armani, just weeks before the Spring/Summer 2026 season, was felt across the industry like the silence after a final note. Armani was more than a designer—he was an architect of modern style, a man whose vision reshaped not only how we dress, but how we move, carry ourselves, and express identity. From the soft-shouldered suit that dismantled old codes in the ’70s to the philosophy of quiet luxury that continues to guide wardrobes today, his touch runs through the very DNA of contemporary style. 

His influence extended well past the runway, reaching every red carpet and film premiere: Julia Roberts in a men’s double-breasted suit, Cate Blanchett in an Armani Privé gown, Rihanna in a sparkling two-piece, and George Clooney forever in his classic tux. Armani dressed not just celebrities, but culture itself—always precise, always assured, and never loud. 

Julia Roberts

1/4

Cate Blanchett

2/4

Rihanna

3/4

George Clooney

4/4

That legacy makes this year bittersweet. As the house marks its 50th anniversary and two decades of Armani Privé, what was meant as a celebration now feels like a commemoration. The runway carried on, as it must, but with a renewed purpose: to pass on a legacy, inspire young creatives, and remind the world of the power in subtlety. 

Ahead of the show, the galleries in Milan offered a quieter, more contemplative stage for Armani’s legacy. The Pinacoteca di Brera, located in the heart of the neighbourhood where Armani lived and worked, became a temple to his imagination. Over 120 garments stand alongside centuries of Italian art, from medieval altarpieces to 19th-century masterpieces.

1/6

2/6

3/6

4/6

5/6

6/6

Drawn from the Armani/Archivio, which houses thousands of original women’s and men’s looks, each piece tells a story of creativity and restraint through soft tailoring, subtle ornamentation, tonal depth, and meticulous craftsmanship. With invisible mannequins evoking the human form, ‘Giorgio Armani: Milano, per Amore’  is both homage and history—a space where fashion becomes culture and culture becomes fashion, a fitting tribute to a designer whose influence is immeasurable.

From the quiet halls of the Pinacoteca di Brera, Armani’s vision moved seamlessly onto the runway. On the evening of Sunday, 28 September, the historic Courtyard of Honour at Palazzo Brera became the stage for his final collection. Rooted in the places that inspired him most—Milan and Pantelleria—the collection unfolded like a graceful farewell, heralding the dawn of a new era. It moved with airy grace, fabrics billowing like sails, lines stretched and softened, while colours shifted from sun-kissed neutrals to the deep pulse of night.

1/10

2/10

3/10

4/10

5/10

6/10

7/10

8/10

9/10

10/10