The Italian fashion designer and billionaire brand owner Giorgio Armani has died at the age of 91.

He was the archetype of Italian style and elegance, reimagining men's and women's suits for a modern audience.

His company Armani expanded from fashion into an empire spanning beauty, fragrance, music, sport, and even luxury hotels, bringing in more than £2bn a year.

Donatella Versace paid tribute to the late designer on her Instagram page, posting a picture of him, saying: The world lost a giant today, he made history and will be remembered forever.

In a statement on the brand's Instagram page, it said Armani worked until his final days, dedicating himself to the company, the collections, and the many ongoing future projects.

The designer was seen as a pioneer in many ways, elevating red carpet fashion to what we see today.

He was also the first designer to ban underweight models from the runway, after the death of model Ana Carolina Reston in 2006 from anorexia nervosa.

Russell Crowe described Armani as a man who made a mark acknowledged around the globe. The actor said he adored Armani and was meant to be seeing him this month, adding that the designer was there for so many significant moments in my life.

Julia Roberts shared a picture of herself in an Armani dress alongside the designer on Instagram with the words A true friend. A legend and a heartbreak emoji.

British designer Paul Smith also spoke about his dear friend and fellow designer.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni also paid tribute, saying: With his elegance, sobriety, and creativity, he was able to bring luster to Italian fashion and inspire the entire world.

An icon, a tireless worker, a symbol of the best of Italy. Thank you for everything.

Armani was described as a true gentleman and titan of the industry by Vogue's Laura Ingham, who paid tribute to the late designer.

Starting his career in medicine, he moved to fashion in the 1960s and set up his own luxury label in 1975 alongside his late partner Sergio Galeotti.

His company also reached a financial settlement with the Italian tax authorities over offshore subsidiaries in 2014, though no wrongdoing was admitted.

Armani was also presented with the French Legion of Honour and Italian Order of Merit for Labour for his work in fashion.