Italian fashion designer and founder of Armani, shaping modern elegance
Valentino’s Piccioli and other designers reveal couture’s experiment‑driven edge as body, make‑believe and sculpture collide with technology amid a global heatwave.
Beauty retailers are rolling out advent calendars for 2026, featuring luxury and budget options. LookFantastic, M&S, Boots, and Boots’ fragrance line unveil calendars with full-size products, elite brands, and online exclusives. The range includes premium, mid-range, and affordable options, with clear savings versus listed values.
Sir Paul Smith marks his 80th birthday with Threads: My Life in Style, reflecting on a career built on curiosity, patient growth, and hands-on leadership. Interviews reveal a designer who values real shops, personal connection, and careful stewardship of his brand as fashion evolves.
A surge of runway shows and campaigns in Paris, Milan and Dubai highlights how brands are leaning into luxury heritage and performance, even as the industry faces a soft market. Designers are unveiling new creative directors and collections that mix traditional craftsmanship with modern spectacle, underscoring a shift toward tangible, wearable luxury.
Steven Kolb has stepped down as CEO and president of the CFDA following an on-stage incident at a COS show during New York Fashion Week, where he restrained two protesters. The CFDA board has thanked him for his two-decade leadership and says the organization is positioned to continue its work.
Vitale has been appointed as the new creative director of Emporio Armani and Giorgio Armani accessories, marking a new era for the brand after Giorgio Armani’s death. The move follows a high-profile, short-lived stint at Versace and signals a push to blend innovation with the label’s identity.
Armani is open to multiple investors in the sale of a 15% stake, with meetings amid talks with LVMH, L’Oréal and EssilorLuxottica. The move follows founder Giorgio Armani’s will mandating an initial sale within 12–18 months of his death. Nutrient pressure remains on Armani to prove its ongoing appeal as revenue slipped in 2025.
Milan Fashion Week has featured Giorgio Armani’s posthumous evolution, with evolving leadership and a stake sale under discussion. Prada, Bottega Veneta, and Armani’s house reveal a path toward spring/summer 2027, balancing legacy with reinvention. Dario Vitale’s expanded role signals creative continuity while talks on a 15% stake progress.