Giorgio Armani Spring/Summer 2026: A Soulful Tribute to One of Fashion’s Greatest

By Jesse Scott

Giorgio Armani Spring/Summer 2026 was a show that the fashion world will never forget. The most anticipated event of the Milano season, it marked the final collection that Giorgio Armani, the legendary founder of both his eponymous house and one of Italy’s greatest fashion and lifestyle empires, worked on personally. Armani passed away at the age of 91 on September 4, having designed every single collection since he launched the brand some fifty years ago. He leaves behind a legacy that is indelibly linked to the history and modern identity of Italian fashion. Yet it also transcends the industry; Giorgio influenced the entire city of Milano while championing a lifestyle of sophistication and curating a holistic vision of streamlined contemporary luxury that was appreciated the world over.

It was fitting that the Spring/Summer 26 show paid tribute to the two places most significant in Giorgio’s world. One of them, of course, is Milano. The show was set at the Pinacoteca di Brera, the city’s most prestigious fine arts museum, opening a nuanced dialogue between various elements of l’art de vivre which Armani consistently distilled in both his sartorial and philosophical ethos. The Pinacoteca is significant because it is located in the historic center of the district in which Armani lived and worked - indeed one that will forever be linked to his name.  

The second place the collection referenced, Pantelleria, could not be more different from the urban charms of Milan but was equally important to the designer. Pantelleria is a tiny Italian island halfway between Sicily and Tunisia. Rugged yet picturesque, it is, in the words of the brand “a land of contrasts… volcanic rocks and dark fields surrounded by the endless blue of the sea…. fluid… as if ready to yield to the island’s winds… everything conceived to seduce with energy.” Thus the collection, proposed on some of Giorgio’s favorite models from through the decades, oscillated between the ethereal and the structured in rich shades of nocturnal blue, gun-metal grey, and earthy tan. 

An Emotional Tribute Brings Joy after a Time of Mourning

While there were teary eyes in the audience in the wake of Armani’s death, the collection was undoubtedly uplifting, bringing joy and vibrant colour to a time of mourning. Nocturnal blue, resembling the sea off Pantelleria during long summer twilight, starred on semi-transparent sweaters, elegantly draped pants and intricately patterned jackets (Looks 44, 45, and 46). Royal purple seized the spotlight on a form–fitting elongated jacket with a statement button closure and an iridescent jacket with a sparkling semi-sheer top (Looks 64, 69). There were several moments of unapologetic glitter and glamour, such as on an asymmetrical purple jacket given structure by a shoulder half-bow and sensuality by a reverse V cut (Look 75). Meanwhile the sleek midnight black and gun-metal gray that were Giorgio’s most iconic chromatic signatures also made an appearance, most notably on a deep V-neck jacket and on several masterfully tailored pairs of pants (Looks 38, 66). From the men’s looks, iridescent silver jackets, cropped on the bottom and paired with loose pants for an effortless nightlife feel, were showstoppers (Look 34).

The show was exceptionally well-cast, with an array of top models walking with unshakeable poise while paying tribute to a designer that, for many, they had close relationships with. And it was deeply appreciated by the star-studded guest list in attendance, highlighted by Cate Blanchett wearing Armani Privé A/W 2025.  Indeed, the show was a who’s who of this Milan Fashion Week’s attendees, with Lauren Hutton, Richard Gere, Bianca Balti, Spike Lee, Lili Gruber, Anna Wintour, and Valeria Golino all sitting front row. They experienced one of fashion’s biggest, and most bittersweet, moments in recent memory, paying respect to a legendary designer who gave the world one final collection even during the month of his passing. The fashion world now flies to Paris for the last week of the season, but the reverberations of this show will continue to be discussed for years.