For more than 50 years, Giorgio Armani was synonymous with Giorgio Armani. The designer founded his eponymous house in 1975 and went on to build one of the most recognisable fashion empires in the world, defined by pieces imbued with the kind of understated elegance that complements their wearer.
Now, the house is entering a new chapter. Following Armani’s death in September 2025 at the age of 91, attention has turned to the future of the brand he built — and, in particular, who will carry its creative vision forward. That question has now been answered, with Dario Vitale announced as the new creative director of Emporio Armani and Giorgio Armani accessories.
The appointment marks the first major creative succession in the House’s history, and comes at a particularly significant moment for the Italian label. Here's everything we know.
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Who is Dario Vitale?
Vitale is an Italian fashion designer who has spent much of his career behind the scenes at some of fashion’s most influential houses. Born near Naples in 1983, he graduated from Istituto Marangoni in Milan in 2006 and began his career at Dsquared2 before moving to Bottega Veneta, where he worked under Tomas Maier.
His most formative chapter came at Miu Miu. Vitale joined the Prada-owned house in 2010 and spent around 14 years there, rising through the ranks to become Design Director for ready-to-wear and Brand Image Director. During his time at Miu Miu, he worked under Miuccia Prada and became part of the team responsible for shaping the distinctive visual identity of one of fashion’s most closely watched brands.
In 2025, Vitale stepped into a much more public role when he was appointed Chief Creative Officer of Versace, succeeding Donatella Versace. His appointment marked a historic change for the house: he was the first creative director outside the Versace family.
His time at Versace, however, was brief. After Prada completed its acquisition of Versace in December 2025, Vitale departed the role after one season.
Now, less than a year later, he finds himself at another of Italy’s defining fashion Houses – this time taking on a role within the Armani universe.
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What does this mean for Giorgio Armani?
The appointment marks a pivotal moment for the house. Unlike many of its contemporaries, Emporio Armani and Giorgio Armani remained closely controlled by its founder until his death, making this succession particularly significant.
Armani’s design language is among the most recognisable in fashion, meaning the new creative director inherits not a blank canvas, but a fully established visual vocabulary. The question now is how Vitale will interpret it.
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When will Vitale start the role?
Armani has not announced the date of Dario Vitale’s first show, but the appointment is effective immediately, so we can assume he'll likely be running the show for next February's Fall Winter shows in Milan.
