September 16, 2026 |
A new Armani era has begun. Dario Vitale – fashion’s wonder boy – has taken up the mantle age of the Italian mega brand Emporio Armani, as well as Giorgio Armani accessories. He is the first to hold this role outside the Armani family.
On the appointment, Vitale says, “I am honoured to take on this dual role across Emporio Armani and Giorgio Armani, and deeply grateful to Silvana and Leo for welcoming me into their world. Armani has a powerful legacy and unmistakable design language; a heritage that has spanned decades and shaped the history of fashion. I approach all of this with a deep sense of responsibility and excitement as we build upon that rich foundation, defining a new era together.”
Formerly Miu Miu’s design and image director, Vitale was appointed chief creative officer of Versace in March 2025, unveiling his debut SS26 collection during Milan Fashion Week that September. There, the Italian designer distilled the house’s high-octane glamour into something more insouciantly lived-in: vivid colour, louche silhouettes and a distinctly off-duty sensuality filtered through retro-inflected T-shirts, slouchy knits, blousons, vests and perfectly faded denim. The bright, suggestive pieces recalled the sex and statement of the Gianni days and quickly amassed a cult-like following, with clients clamouring for the washed jeans and softly dishevelled tailoring before they had even hit the shop floor. One particular hit was his hyper-saturated, Andy Warhol-inspired Party Print, which, pasted onto silk twill shirts and heeled pumps, became a favourite of fashion editors far and wide. Vitale was also widely credited as one of the key forces behind Miu Miu’s feverish ascent over the past three years.
Following the announcement that Vitale would be exiting Versace after just one season, the Prada Group, which bought Versace at the beginning of December, released a statement saying they and the designer had “mutually agreed to part ways effective from 12 December”. In a statement provided to Vogue Business, Prada Group added, “We would like to sincerely thank Dario for his outstanding contribution to the development of the brand’s creative strategy during this transition period, and we wish him all the very best in his future endeavours.”
Vitale’s momentous move to Emporio Armani marks the first time the Italian label will be creatively led by someone outside of the Armani camp. Since the founder’s passing, the brand’s womenswear output has been led by Armani’s niece, Silvana Armani, whilst the menswear arm has been led by his longtime collaborator, Leo Dell’Orco. As such, Vitale assuming the role of the brand’s creative director marks a hugely significant moment for Armani’s global empire, as Vitale is the first outside actor to ever be tasked with interpreting Mr. Armani’s time-honoured codes from scratch.
CEO and managing director of the Armani Group, Giuseppe Marsocci, says, “The appointment of Dario Vitale marks an important milestone for the Armani Group: a decision that strengthens our creative organisation and confirms our commitment to looking ahead, consolidating the Group’s path of evolution while remaining faithful to Giorgio Armani’s values and vision. Emporio Armani is a brand of strategic relevance for us and our partners around the world. Giorgio Armani accessories represent a great opportunity. We look to this new phase with enormous confidence.”
The appointment is effective immediately, however it has not yet been announced when Vitale will show his first collection. Emily Phillips, Bella Koopman & Talia Panayi
Photography courtesy of Emporio Armani.
