Stars including Cate Blanchett, Glenn Close, and Richard Gere were in attendance for the Giorgio Armani spring/summer 2026 collection show in Milan on Sunday, the final collection the Italian designer worked on before his death.
Originally intended as a celebration of 50 years of the late designer's fashion house, the catwalk show became a tribute to Armani following his death earlier this month aged 91.
It took place at the Pinacoteca di Brera art gallery, where more than 120 of his creations are on show. Models who had walked for the designer over the past five decades returned to showcase a mix of classic suits and glittering dresses.
They wore neutrals, greens, blues, and purples, evoking the light, earth, and sea. The collection was inspired by the northern Italian city where Armani lived and the small volcanic island of Pantelleria, where he had a holiday home.
Paper lanterns were laid across the courtyard, as they had been at a public viewing of Armani's body in Milan earlier this month, with the models walking under the portico.
This moment, this atmosphere speaks for itself. There's a lot of memories here tonight, Blanchett told AFP. The Oscar-winning actress also told Reuters that Armani was a deeply human, talented individual.
The show was followed by a visit around the Giorgio Armani: Milano, Per Amore exhibition, which sees classic outfits, including Gere's suit from the 1980 movie American Gigolo, set among Italian art masterpieces.
Lee told Reuters that Armani had been an artist, humanitarian and a good guy. The final dress in the show, worn by Agnese Zogla, featured an image of Armani's face, drawing a standing ovation from the 700 guests.
The collection notes stated, 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.
With live piano music performed by Italian composer Ludovico Einaudi and special guests like outgoing Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour, this event marked a fitting close to Milan Fashion Week.
In a related event, Meryl Streep and Stanley Tucci were also spotted in Milan, filming for a sequel to The Devil Wears Prada as part of the same fashion week.
