Giorgio Armani

At 91, “Re Giorgio” had been a constant presence in fashion for my entire career. When I first started working in menswear and as I discovered Armani’s work, everything changed. Here was a designer who had taken the rigid formality of traditional suiting and quietly revolutionised it. He surgically removed linings, softened shoulders, and created garments that fell naturally over the body. His breakthrough moment - dressing Richard Gere in “American Gigolo” - showed an entire generation that power dressing didn’t have to mean discomfort.

What struck me most about Armani wasn’t just his technical innovation, but his philosophy. “Elegance is a manner, an attitude, a way of carrying oneself that’s totally unrelated to clothing,” he once said. “Elegance, to me, means effortlessness and kindness.” This wasn’t about showing off wealth or status - it was about allowing a man to feel completely comfortable in his own skin while looking impeccable.

This lesson fundamentally shaped how I approach my own work. Living and working in New Zealand, I’ve always struggled with the disconnect between traditional formal wear and our relaxed, unpretentious culture. Armani showed me that you don’t have to choose between comfort and sophistication. His Italian approach - that soft, unstructured construction- gave me permission to create clothing that works for how men actually live, not just how they’re supposed to look.

Armani’s consistency was often criticised by fashion insiders who wanted constant reinvention, but I found it inspiring. While others chased trends, he refined and perfected his vision over five decades. He understood that true style isn’t about shocking people or following every season’s novelty - it’s about creating something so fundamentally right that it transcends time. In an industry obsessed with the next big thing, he proved that excellence lies in the details: the slope of a lapel, the curve of a shoulder, the way fabric drapes.

His independence was equally influential. In a luxury landscape increasingly dominated by massive conglomerates, Armani remained the sole owner of his company, never compromising his singular vision. This gave me courage in my own journey - that it’s possible to build something meaningful while staying true to your principles, even if it means growing more slowly or saying no to certain opportunities.

As I reflect on his legacy, I realise Armani taught me that the best menswear doesn’t announce itself - it simply allows the man wearing it to be the best version of himself. In a world full of noise and ostentation, he whispered elegance.

That quiet confidence is something I carry with me every day, and something I hope to pass on through my own work. Grazie, Maestro.