Giorgio Armani – photo by GiorgioArmani Instagram
At the age of 90, after 50 years of nonstop work creating one of the premier design labels in the world, a break might be warranted—unless your name was Giorgio Armani, the owner of the Milan-based luxury fashion house that manufactures, distributes, and retails haute couture, ready-to-wear, leather goods, shoes, accessories, and home interiors.
The third biggest fashion group behind Gucci and Prada, Armani and his little-known founder, Sergio Galeotti, who died of a heart attack in 1985, have shown no signs of slowing down, indicative of his four-day takeover of Manhattan’s Upper East Side.
Beginning on Wednesday, October 16th, 2024, Armani hosted the opening of his 760 Madison Avenue boutique and a private dinner for some of his coveted clients.
Giorgio Armani & models – photo by GiorgioArmani Instagram
The 760 Madison Avenue boutique, a 1930s architecturally inspired edifice, was celebrated with no expense spared. This collaboration with SL Green Realty and COOKFOX Architects spans 9,000 Square Meters and 97,200 square feet over 12 floors. It houses residences, Giorgio Armani and Armani Casa boutiques, and the Armani ristorante, a testament to Armani’s diverse influence in the fashion and lifestyle industries.
The ten customizable sold-out residences, which sell for $168.2 million, occupy floors four to twelve and feature communal spaces, over 10-foot ceiling heights, and environmentally friendly outfitting. If you hope to grab a sold-out apartment or a meal, good luck—the restaurant is booked for the next seven months.
Runway – photo by “beautiful Valentina” Instagram
Giorgio chose to celebrate his 50-year-old eponymous label in New York as an ode to its “fast-paced modern spirit,” a place that has left an indelible impression since his first trip there in the 1970s to receive the Neiman Marcus Award.
America constitutes 21 percent of company sales, which amounted to $2.7 billion last year. The 90-year-old dynamo is one of those designers in the category of the late Gianni Versace and Oscar de la Renta, whose fame transcends his label, and so many of his high-spending clients flew in to rub elbows with the iconic genius as he reached his later years.
Vidwath Kashyap, Linda Fargo, Sarbani Maitra – photo Lieba Nesis
Before his highly anticipated show on Thursday, October 17th, at the Park Avenue Armory, Giorgio made a stop at Bergdorf’s to launch his New York collection, which revisits the 1980s era of power suiting, and sign copies of his book Per Amore. The fashion world was buzzing with excitement for what was to come.
Jordan Roth – photo by Lieba Nesis
As the first retailer to install an in-store Armani boutique in 1980, thanks to the fashion director Dawn Mello, Armani’s vast history with Bergdorf’s is reflected on the fourth floor, where an expansive Armani boutique awaits.
Runway – photo by “beautiful Valentina” Instagram
As Armani made his way back to the main event at the Park Avenue Armory, he could be seen backstage making last-minute alterations to the Women’s Spring/Summer 2025 collection taking place in the historic 19th-century building.
Runway – photo by Lieba Nesis
The 650 fashion show attendees were instructed to wear black ties, setting the tone for the once-in-a-decade event. The last of these took place at the ‘One Night Only’ event in October 2013, and before that, in 2004, when the $1 million price tag seemed exorbitant, further highlighting the exclusivity of the event.
Runway – photo by “beautiful Valentina” Instagram
The invitation read: show 7-9 PM, leading luminaries such as Anna Wintour, Pamela Anderson, Amanda Seyfried, Georgina Bloomberg, Orlando Bloom, Liev Schreiber, Carmelo Anthony, Brie Larson, Christine Schwarzman, Huma Abedin, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Zachary Quinto, Jordan Roth, Rebecca Vanyo, Prabal Gurung, and Daniel Lee to arrive more than an hour early. The anticipation was palpable as the collection was set to begin at 8:30 PM.
The habitually punctual Wintour had a rare full hour of free time, during which she happily fraternized with her son-in-law, Francesco Carrozzini, as cocktails and lite bites were served. At 8 PM, a projection of steam trains implored guests to take their assigned seats in the jazz club-inspired adjacent room, as a lavish collection of 90 designs to celebrate Armani’s 90th birthday was about to begin.
The “In Viaggio” (On a Journey) line celebrated luxurious travel ware as models in cropped trench coats and trousers tucked into high leather boots appeared in loosely tailored attire in soft palettes of gray, slate, charcoal, and beige. Camel and sand gave way to evening wear in luxurious blues and pinks.
Runway – photo by Lieba Nesis
While the show was billed as a women’s collection, there was a delightful surprise as men unexpectedly appeared in many of the ensembles, adding an intriguing twist to the show. They traipsed down the runway in effortlessly fitted attire, with cheeky touches such as a porter carrying two suitcases and a model carrying a dog matching her tan ensemble.
Despite a PETA protestor taken down by photographer Kevin Mazur after storming the runway with a sign reading “Armani ban wild animal skins,” the show went off without a hitch as signature Armani designs were showcased for the full 13 minutes.
While hats, belts, and bags were used generously, other accessories such as heavy jewelry or excess makeup were spared – this collection was meant to exude quiet luxury, not grandiose consumerism.
Runway – photo by lieba Nesis
Last-minute no-shows, Julia Roberts and Leonardo DiCaprio, were canceled due to filming obligations. The elegant crowd looked straight out of “La Dolce Vita.” Armani’s recent revelation that he would be retiring within the next two to three years left the crowd disappointed at his decision to forego his much-ballyhooed strut down the lengthy runway.
His understandable exhaustion kept him stationary under the spotlight as the audience clapped with approval. His undeniably triumphant return to New York included a separate afterparty featuring the legendary Chaka Khan and DJ James Blake.
After party at the Carlyle – photo by Lieba Nesis
For the hundreds of guests who arrived from Japan, Brazil, Italy, Texas, California, and China, the all-expense-paid trip included a stay at The Mark and Carlyle Hotel and a jam-packed four days as an after-after party at the Carlyle was underway.
Hordes of guests lined up as an overcrowded Bemelman’s Bar was forced to close its doors, with Orlando Bloom and other show participants enjoying Armani’s favorite cocktails until the wee hours of the morning.
Friday, October 18th, was another Armani day. Couture clients held private appointments with Armani beginning at 11 AM, and a lavish lunch was served. This historic extravaganza was Armani’s final farewell to New York, as he handed the reins to an unknown successor who would have impossible shoes to fill—preferably Armani.
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