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 AFP news agency reported.
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.
Following the show, Blanchett remarked, 'This moment, this atmosphere speaks for itself. There's a lot of memories here tonight.'
The Oscar-winning actress also described Armani as a 'deeply human, talented individual.'
The show ended with a profound tribute: the final dress, a long-sleeved, blue glittering gown worn by one of Armani's favorite models, Agnese Zogla, contained an image of his face. This emotional moment drew a standing ovation from the crowd of 700.
In conclusion, Armani's niece Silvana Armani and partner Leo Dell'Orco took a bow, emphasizing the legacy of Armani's fashion empire.
Live piano music was performed by renowned Italian composer Ludovico Einaudi, adding to the evening's emotional landscape. Outgoing Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour was also in attendance, marking this final show as a fitting close to Milan Fashion Week.
