Giorgio Armani, the Italian designer who made his name synonymous with understated elegance and austere simplicity, has died at the age of 91. His death closes a chapter in global fashion that spans more than half a century and leaves an indelible mark on the aesthetics of the 20th and 21st centuries.

Born in 1934 in Piacenza, Armani started out with the dream of becoming a doctor. He studied medicine for three years at the University of Milan and served in the army, working in a military hospital in Verona.

However, a job as a window dresser in a department store brought him closer to fashion. From that point on, he began a path that was to revolutionize the image of Italian and international clothing.

In 1975, together with his partner and collaborator Sergio Galeotti, they sold their Volkswagen to found the Armani House.

Galeotti died in 1985, but the brand continued to expand unabated.

Today it is among the strongest in the world, with a turnover exceeding 2.3 billion euros annually and a presence in more than 600 boutiques internationally.

The signature unlined jacket and loose silhouette that he launched in the late 1970s became instantly recognizable.

The power suit  for women, with padding and masculine lines, became synonymous with the new generation of dynamic professionals in the 80s.

For him, fashion had to be practical: I design for real people. There is no virtue in creating clothes that are not useful.

Armani also made history in Hollywood. In 1980, American Gigolo with Richard Gere catapulted his name to the top.

Since then, he has participated in the costuming of over 200 films, from the Oscars red carpet to the Rodeo Drive Walk of Fame, receiving a star in 2003.

From Sean Penn and Anne Hathaway  to George Clooney, Sophia Loren and Brad Pitt, Hollywood stars have worn his creations.

His empire went beyond fashion. In addition to clothing and accessories, he created perfumes, cosmetics, furniture, florists, a chocolatier, bars and restaurants.

From 1998 to the present, he has opened more than 20 restaurants, while he inaugurated two hotels – in Dubai in 2009 and in Milan in 2010.

He also had his own basketball team, EA7 Emporio Armani Milano, also known as Olympia Milano.

Armani's style began with him. With his blue eyes, permanent tan, and white hair, he almost always wore jeans and a t-shirt.

His homes, from Milan to Saint-Tropez and Pantelleria, were minimalist, with bare walls and few objects. His great love was sailing, spending much time on his 60-meter yacht.

In his personal life, he was discreet. In an interview with Vanity Fair, he stated that he had relationships with both men and women.

His most important relationship was with Sergio Galeotti. He had no children; his closest friend was his niece, Roberta, who gave up acting to take over the house's public relations.

At the same time, he was actively involved in social activities. He supported organizations for children and the fight against AIDS, while in 2002 he was named a UN Goodwill Ambassador for refugees.

In 2000, the Guggenheim Museum in New York presented a retrospective of the first 25 years of his work, recognizing his importance to the history of fashion.

Until this June, when he first missed Milan Fashion Week due to health problems, Armani himself had control over every detail, from the collections to the advertisements.

He was even preparing to celebrate the 50th anniversary of his house at this year's Fashion Week.

With his death, Italy and the fashion world say goodbye to Re Giorgio – the man who never signed a merger or sale of his company, maintaining his independence and vision until the end.

A creator who transformed simplicity into the highest form of luxury and forever defined what made in Italy means.