Giorgio Armani, Menswear Maestro, Has Died at 91

Giorgio Armani, the godfather of Italian style and a defining force in menswear for half a century, has died at 91.

Mr. Armani, as he was known by all, passed away peacefully surrounded by his loved ones, his namesake company said in a statement, which added that the famously industrious designer was working until the end: “In this company, we have always felt like part of a family. Today, with deep emotion, we feel the void left by the one who founded and nurtured this family with vision, passion, and dedication.”

Armani’s passing represents a towering loss for fashion. The history of menswear in particular can be sorted into pre- and post-Armani eras. The onetime medical student and department store window dresser from Piacenza founded his namesake brand in 1975 and promptly stripped the stiffness out of the boxy business suits of the day, dispensing with shoulder pads and cutting the silhouette with a louche fullness. The Armani look was a revolution: dressy and elegant, but disarming and exuding ease. His suits didn’t project power but rather spoke to an inner sophistication. He cut clothes that were alive on the body.

Over the next 50 years, Mr. Armani was one of fashion’s most consistent and influential voices. Though the designer was personally shy, his work became a fixture of Hollywood. A cinema buff, Armani dressed Richard Gere in 1980’s American Gigolo, which helped make him a household name in the States. He was also early to spot the rising importance of the red carpet, and his name became practically synonymous with the ’90s movie star look.

In recent years, Armani’s stature in the menswear world has only grown, as a new generation of designers have looked to his legacy of sensuality in classic clothing for inspiration.

According to the Armani Group’s statement, a public visitation will be held this weekend at the brand’s headquarters in Milan, followed by a private funeral.

This post will be updated with further information.