‘MILANO, PER AMORE’: HONOURING GIORGIO ARMANI’S LEGACY
words by VERONICA TLAPANCO SZABÓ
Looking back to the late 1990s, when Giorgio Armani made his Parisian debut in Saint-Germain-des-Prés, the legendary haunt of intellectuals and café conversations, he already showed a rare kind of thoughtfulness. The move unsettled local artists, yet Armani’s love for the arts has always gone far beyond commerce, so much so that he contributed to restoring the neighbourhood church’s stained-glass windows, a testament to his care for culture. That same sensitivity guided him decades later at the Pinacoteca di Brera in Milano. Today, Armani’s creative pulse unfolds within the gallery, where, for the first time, the institution embraces fashion as part of its mission, pulling his garments into a dialogue with Italian art.
image courtesy of GIORGIO ARMANI
Rather than arranging the garments in strict chronological or thematic order, Armani selected each piece to converse with its surroundings. “He searched his visual alphabet… for works that could resonate with our environments,” explains Chiara Rostagno, deputy director of the gallery. The goal was less about showcasing the clothes as objects and more about participating in the beauty of the rooms. Mindful of the paintings’ emotional power, he insisted the outfits never obscure or overwhelm the artworks.
images courtesy of GIORGIO ARMANI
“An exhibition can be seen in two different ways. On the one hand, there’s the immediate satisfaction of the creator’s ego. On the other, there’s the educational value, the unique testimony that is offered not only to the public through your work, but above all to young creatives: it is a feeling that lasts and is gratifying. I’m interested in this second aspect.”
images courtesy of GIORGIO ARMANI
Think muted silk jackets echoing marble columns, or a poppy-red bustier (once worn by Katie Holmes) sparking against Bernardino Luini’s sacred pinks. Over 120 looks from ARMANI/Archivio transform the gallery into a living archive, reflecting the spirit of Giorgio Armani, who often confessed his affection for Brera, the Milanese neighbourhood he chose as both home and creative haven. Armani’s Milanese spirit shines throughout the timeless tailoring and the invisible mannequins allow the garments to suggest a body in motion, turning the clothes themselves into living presences.
image courtesy of GIORGIO ARMANI
Milano, per Amore has just opened at the Pinacoteca di Brera and remains on view until 11 January 2026, you are invited to wander through fifty years of timeless eleganza.
