Giorgio Armani to Skip Milan Fashion Week for First Time Due to Health Reasons

90-year-old Armani will miss his shows at Milan Fashion Week, marking a historic first in his long career.

Fashion icon Giorgio Armani has made the difficult decision to miss his scheduled shows at Milan Fashion Week due to health issues. The 90-year-old designer is reportedly recovering at home following a brief hospital stay in Milan, as confirmed by his company in a recent statement.

This marks a pivotal moment in Armani's illustrious career, spanning over five decades, as it is believed to be the first time he has missed one of his highly anticipated catwalk events. He had been tirelessly dedicated to working on the collections slated for reveal next week, yet he will now watch the menswear shows scheduled for Saturday and Monday from afar.

Notably, the upcoming presentations will showcase the Spring-Summer 2026 collections for his self-titled luxury brand. In his absence, long-time collaborator and head of menswear design Leo Dell'Orco is set to take center stage and receive the applause traditionally reserved for Armani himself.

Despite recent health setbacks, there are reports that Armani is in good spirits and anticipates returning to the fashion scene later this year for his brand's shows in Paris at the end of June. The brand is on the brink of celebrating its 50th anniversary, coinciding with Armani's own 91st birthday next month.

Born in 1934 in Piacenza, Italy, Armani initially pursued a degree in medicine before transitioning to fashion. He co-founded the iconic label with his late partner, Sergio Galeotti, in 1975 and has since expanded his empire to include haute couture, ready-to-wear fashion, accessories, beauty products, jewelry, interior design, and luxury hotels across leading cities such as Milan, Paris, New York, Tokyo, Seoul, and Shanghai. Known affectionately as 'Re Giorgio' or King Giorgio, he remains a formidable figure in the luxury fashion industry.