Memories From Decades of Reporting on Giorgio Armani

I have reported on both the Giorgio Armani company and the man himself for more than two decades, not only in Milan but elsewhere. This Milan Fashion Week is especially poignant for many, given that it will mark the last shows of his designs for the Emporio Armani and Giorgio Armani brands.

So it was suggested I write about my memories of Giorgio Armani, although different thoughts zapped through my mind as I am unused to writing a first-person perspective for WWD and also because there are indeed so many over the decades of meeting and reporting on him. I felt I had to carefully sieve through them to pay tribute to the designer.

The self-made man who built a fashion empire could be quite intimidating, but this larger-than-life persona belied a man with unexpected characteristics. Sure, he could be exacting and even fiery — his steely blue eyes as telling as words — but he was always respectful. On one occasion, he made it very clear to me that he was expecting a cover photo and that he was not pleased — at all — despite a two-page article inside. It made for a memorable moment. The photo was published on the cover a day later as was always planned. Punctually, as he always did following a big story, he sent an autographed thank you note. 

I traveled the world to cover Armani’s events and had the opportunity to see him in action outside of the usual seasonal shows in Milan — but no matter where the event was held, he was always a force of nature that would test the stamina of his team and the press. He never missed a beat. 

The brief press conferences he held after his Giorgio Armani shows in Milan were unmissable. You never knew what he would say. They often showed a very personal and humorous side of Armani, who would break into jokes and easy banter — especially with Leo Dell’Orco, his right-hand man for years and one of his main heirs who now takes the design reins of the brand. He would air grievances about the state of fashion and, often prodded by carefully placed questions, talk freely about anything, ranging from Italy’s prime minister to a recent celebrity wedding — much to the chagrin of his communication team trying to keep him in check. He knew it and he loved it.  

Armani had a rapid-fire way of conveying his thoughts, reflecting a quick mind, sharp as a razor, seamlessly shifting among his designer, chairman and chief executive officer hats, as he responded to questions about his customers and their shopping habits, as well as the strategies on how to expand his business. Because, after all, that was always top of mind. While staying true to his design views, he never forgot that thousands of employees around the world depended on his namesake company. In fact, he was always mindful of where he’d come from, and perhaps this was one of the reasons he succeeded in creating a strong bond with people.

As has been widely reported, Armani lived through World War II and was injured shortly after it ended by an exploding mine. When Russia first invaded Ukraine in February 2022 during Milan Fashion Week and at one of his usual press conferences, he was literally moved to tears thinking of the children involved in that war. After he died, several of his charitable allocations were made public — and there were many, never disclosed when he was alive.  

He would always go out of his way to pose for photos with anyone who would ask. I walked with him on several occasions during his One Night Only events, in cities from Beijing and Dubai to Rome and Venice and he was stopped like a movie star. He was undoubtedly one of the most recognizable designers in the world, but he would still marvel at the attention he was paid, while relishing it. No diva designer-in-the-ivory tower behavior here. I myself have several photos with him — never stiff, smiling broadly, hugging me behind my back like a kind grandfather. In that vein, he would sometimes notice what I was wearing, comment on whether my hair was straightened or not, and really see me as a person, not only the journalist. 

He often said he could have been a film director, but he also knew exactly how he should be photographed. In Dubai in 2021 for the One Night Only event, WWD photographer Giovanni Giannoni and I were ushered into his suite at the Armani Hotel in the Burj Khalifa.  Huge windows overlooked the Dubai Mall. Armani stayed seamlessly on topic, but at the same time aimed to stage-direct the shoot to avoid looking washed out against the bright sunlight. 

My admiration professionally and affection for him as a person grew stronger and stronger over time. He welcomed me in his home for a WWD Weekend design story and I saw yet another side of him, whimsical and surprising, sitting on a ’30s restored armchair newly upholstered with a leopard print fabric — not a pattern one would associate with Armani. A sweet portrait with his mother took pride of place, and above it a painting of a black panther. I was always touched by how close the bond with his parents continued to be. 

I would have hated to miss attending the funeral chamber and outside the headquarters of his company, I had the opportunity to see just how beloved he was, with thousands of people lining up, grieving the loss of a man who raised Italy’s reputation around the world. 

Out of respect, I could never bring myself to call him Giorgio, he was always Mr. Armani to me. Goodbye, Mr. Armani, and thank you for the memories.