Giorgio Armani is one of those names that will remain forever bound to the history of fashion, both for his persona and for having revolutionised the scene with what we now know as the minimalist style: one marked by sobriety, elegance and timelessness. Over the course of his career, the Italian designer succeeded in expanding well beyond haute couture, rightfully earning the labels of artist, entrepreneur and philanthropist. Now, the Pinacoteca di Brera in Milan is celebrating Armani’s fifty-year creative journey by hosting, for the very first time, an exhibition devoted to his stylistic trajectory, Giorgio Armani: Milano, Per Amore, open until 11 January 2026.
Armani was one of the first Europeans to insist that clothing should serve the individual, and not the other way round, without any need to sacrifice style. Clean lines, soft cuts and harmonious proportions helped define this approach: one built on standing out through self-assurance rather than excess. He influenced not only the way people dressed, but also how they lived, thought and understood fashion as an artistic discipline. And, although he sadly passed away on 4 September this year, his legacy continues to inspire.
The Pinacoteca di Brera brings together more than one hundred and twenty creations by the Italian designer, displayed among masterpieces of the visual arts spanning from the Middle Ages to the nineteenth century, in a visual journey that demonstrates how fashion can also serve as an artistic language capable of transforming our cultural and aesthetic perception. This exhibition not only pays tribute to Armani’s legacy, but also asserts the place of fashion within Italy’s artistic and intellectual heritage.
The exhibition takes its inspiration from the designer’s autobiography, Per Amore, in which he himself stressed that a show should not be understood merely as a personal accolade, but as an opportunity to pass on knowledge to new generations of creatives. Armani’s deep bond with the Brera district, where he lived and worked for decades, adds an intimate dimension to this celebration, reinforced by the honorary title awarded to him by the Academy of Fine Arts in 1993, in recognition of the consistency of his stylistic research and his ability to unite functionality with imagination.
Giorgio Armani: Milano, Per Amore not only celebrates the designer’s unmistakable aesthetic (refined sobriety, neutral tones and a constant reinterpretation of tailoring), but also redefines the role of fashion within cultural institutions. By integrating his creations into the context of the Pinacoteca, fashion is recognised as a legitimate art form—one that converses with history and has the power to enrich it with new perspectives.
The exhibition Giorgio Armani: Milano, Per Amore is open until the 11th of January, 2026, at Pinacoteca di Brera, Via Brera 28, Milan.
