Tragedy that left Giorgio Armani ‘indifferent to love’: Designer who dated ‘women and sometimes men’ lived with his business partner until his death – but never got over loss of lover who died from Aids in the ’80s

Despite global success at the helm of a fashion house turning over some 2.3 billion euros a year, Giorgio Armani faced considerable strife in his personal life and confessed he was ‘a bit indifferent’ to love in a heartbreaking interview given just a year prior to his death. 

The Italian fashion designer, who has passed away aged 91, dated both men and women, but remained tight-lipped on his sexuality and only commented on his relationships a mere handful of times during his lifetime. 

It was revealed on Thursday that Armani had passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his family – with the fashion house describing their ‘infinite sorrow’ at his loss. 

Prior to his death, the designer had enjoyed a close relationship with his business partner and right-hand man, Leo Dell’Orco – with Armani publicly speaking of their ‘deep affection’.  

But in a rare interview, given to Italian newspaper Corriere della Sela just last year, the designer admitted he felt ‘a bit indifferent’ to love. 

His comments were likely a reference to his long-term partner Sergio Galeotti, who passed away from an AIDS-related illness in 1985, leaving the designer feeling like he had lost ‘a part’ of himself. 

It was Galeotti who had encouraged the fashion titan to enter the industry after they first met in 1966, with Armani going on to launch his own label in 1975. 

Armani himself was notoriously tight-lipped about his personal life – only giving a handful of interviews shedding light on his romances over the years. 

As he briefly summarised during an interview with Vanity Fair in 2000, he said: ‘I have had women in my life, and sometimes men.’ 

In an interview with Italian newspaper Corriere della Sela last year, he revealed he lost his virginity to a girl at school, but admitted ‘it wasn’t exactly the best’. 

Though he didn’t specify when, he said fell in love with a man for the first time when he attended summer camp. 

He told the newspaper: ‘I didn’t understand what it was, I didn’t differentiate between men and women. 

‘It was an attraction I felt, something beautiful: you couldn’t wait to be close to him, to have him caress you… a great emotion. I’ve never told anyone these things. It’s a very moving memory.’ 

His long term partner was Sergio Galeotti, whom he met on holiday in La Capannina in Versilia, Tuscany, in 1966, when he was 32. 

Galeotti was 11 years his junior and they had an immediate connection. 

Speaking to Vanity Fair previously, Armani recalled: ‘Right away he made me Papa – I felt right away responsible for him and for his life. It was really as if he were my child.’

Soon, the relationship changed to one of ‘deep affection’, and he added: ‘Love is too reductive a term. It was a great complicity vis-à-vis life and the rest of the world.’

It was Galeotti who joined him in Milan and encouraged him to enter the fashion world, telling him he had ‘significant potential’ – before Armani launched his own label in 1975. 

When Galeotti died of an AIDS-related illness – reported at the time to be a heart attack – in 1985 at the age of 40, Armani was to spend the next four decades without his true love. 

In Sergio’s final years, the two were more best friends than lovers, with Armani admitting that ‘passion doesn’t last’. 

However, his loss devastated the fashion icon – and he never truly got over the tragedy. 

He told New York Magazine 11 years after Sergio’s death that still wore his partner’s ring every day, and admitted: ‘He never saw me cry. He himself never said anything. In a whole year, he said once, ‘Giorgio, look how thin I have become’ -that’s all.’

And last year, he recalled: ‘When Sergio died, a part of me died. I have to say I congratulate myself a little, because I withstood such intense pain.’ 

His family were also quick to notice a difference in him, with his niece Roberta telling Vanity Fair that her uncle became ‘more serious and introverted’, and more focused on his work than ever following Sergio’s death. 

Though he since said he became ‘indifferent’ to love, Armani said the person ‘closest’ to him was Leo Dell’Orco, and they lived together for many years. 

As Armani’s right-hand man and chief of men’s style, Dell’Orco, 72, was nearly always by his side, but the label on their relationship remained unclear. 

In Armani’s 2022 biography Per Amore, he gave a rare explanation of their relationship: ‘His real name is Pantaleo… he is the person to whom I have entrusted my most private thoughts, personal, work and otherwise, which he has kept to himself with great discretion. Thank you, Leo!’

The pair are not married, but Armani said he wore a ‘wonderful ring with a diamond’.  

For his part, Dell’Orco has said he prefers to work ‘behind the scenes’ and, even as one of Armani’s closest confidantes, was not always in his favour. 

He told Repubblica in 2023: ‘I don’t think he has ever told me I was good. By the grace of God, he gave me a pat on the back once. But I don’t suffer from it, by now I know how he thinks.’ 

Armani himself had no children but was very close to his niece Roberta, daughter of his late brother Sergio. 

The Italian designer passed away peacefully at his home surrounded by his family, the Armani Group announced on Thursday.

Armani died just weeks ahead of a planned 50th anniversary celebration set to take place at Milan fashion week.

A spokesperson for the company added: ‘Today, with deep emotion, we feel the void left by the one who founded and nurtured this family with vision, passion, and dedication.’

Armani had been CEO and creative director up until his death and said in his last interview last weekend: ‘My greatest weakness is that I am in control of everything.’

The self-confessed workaholic, who was involved in every aspect of shows, had previously revealed how his biggest regret in life was ‘spending too many hours working and not enough time with friends and family’. 

Armani, who dressed celebrities including Julia Roberts, George Clooney, Cate Blanchett and Lady Gaga, was famous for his relaxed tailoring.

He was one of the most influential and globally famous designers of the late 20th century.

Fellow Italian fashion designer Donatella Versace said the ‘world had lost a giant today’.

Writing on Instagram, she said: ‘He made history and will be remembered forever.’ 

German actress Dianne Kruger had worn many Armani creations through the years and today paid a touching tribute. 

‘One of the nicest people and mentors I was lucky enough to meet and work with,’ she said. 

Gladiator actor Russell Crowe said he adored Armani and that he ‘was so kind’. 

The Oscar winner said he had planned to meet up with the fashion icon in Milan later this month.

‘So many significant moments in my life, awards, wedding, Wimbledon… all in Armani,’ he wrote on X. 

‘What a life he had, from his beginnings to his glory.’

He ended his post with ‘Grazie Giorgio vivrai sempre nel mio cuore [you will always live in my heart]’.

His funeral will be private, the group said, but well-wishers can pay respects beforehand at a funeral chamber open on Saturday and Sunday in Milan.

‘Il Signor Armani, as he was always respectfully and admiringly called by employees and collaborators, passed away peacefully, surrounded by his loved ones,’ the company said.

‘Indefatigable to the end, he worked until his final days, dedicating himself to the company, the collections, and the many ongoing and future projects,’ the company said.

Armani had cancelled his menswear show in Milan this year due to health reasons. He also missed the Paris Armani Prive show on doctors’ orders.

‘In 20 years of Armani Prive, it’s the first time I’m not in Paris,’ he said in a statement sent to AFP in July.

‘My doctors advised more rest, even though I felt ready.’

He added that he had ‘followed and overseen every aspect of the show remotely’, stressing: ‘I approved and signed off on everything you will see.’

The Italian icon was credited with inventing red-carpet fashion, but also moved into a younger and less expensive range through Emporio Armani, and opened luxury hotels.

Italy’s Culture Minister Alessandro Giuli led the tributes, paying homage to ‘a leading figure in Italian culture, who was able to transform elegance into a universal language’.

‘His understated and innovative style redefined the relationship between fashion, cinema, and society, leaving an indelible mark on contemporary culture,’ he said.

‘He was not only a master of fashion, but also a recognised ambassador of Italian identity around the world.’

Armani was synonymous with modern Italian style and elegance. He combined the flair of the designer with the acumen of a businessman, running a company that turned over some 2.3 billion euros ($2.7 billion) a year.

He had been unwell for some time, and was forced to drop out of his group’s shows at Milan’s Men’s Fashion Week in June, the first time in his career that he had missed one of his catwalk events.

Known as ‘Re Giorgio’ – King Giorgio – the designer was known for overseeing every detail of his collection and every aspect of his business, from advertising to fixing models’ hair as they head out on to the runway.

A funeral chamber will be set up on Saturday and Sunday in Milan, the company said, followed by a private funeral at an unspecified date.

Armani dressed the rich and famous in classic tailored styles, fashioned in super-soft fabrics and muted tones. 

His handsome black tie outfits and glittering evening gowns often stole the show on award season red carpets.

At the time of his death, Armani had put together an empire worth over $10 billion, which along with clothing included accessories, home furnishings, perfumes, cosmetics, books, flowers and even chocolates, ranking him in the world’s top 200 billionaires, according to Forbes.

The designer also owned several bars, clubs, restaurants and his own basketball team EA7 Emporio Armani Milan, better known as Olympia Milano. 

Armani opened more than than 20 restaurants from Milan to Tokyo since 1998, and two hotels, one in Dubai in 2009 and another in Milan, in 2010.