When you are a 90-year-old fashion and design icon, the only way to take New York City is to do it your way. Two weeks ago, Giorgio Armani celebrated his bold return to the Big Apple with plenty of fanfare – from his first fashion show in the city in 11 years on 17 September to the unveiling of an entire 12-storey building where you can dress like Armani, eat like Armani, decorate like Armani, and even move into an apartment fully designed by the Italian legend.
The Armani/Madison Avenue property, redesigned in partnership with SL Green Realty Corp. and CookFox Architects, was unveiled at a glamorous cocktail party where fans of the brand explored its two-storey fashion boutique and entire third floor devoted to Armani Casa furniture and accessories. Guests in Armani gowns and tailored menswear roamed the three-floor space, exploring the upcoming Armani/Ristorante, with Art Deco–inspired decor and a Champagne bar, set to open in November. They also sampled chocolates from the section stocked with Armani/Dolci products, including the designer’s favourite Italian preserves.
The building, at the corner of East 65th Street on the site of Armani’s former Manhattan flagship, will also include ten residences for those who want to live fully immersed in the Italian designer’s world. Starting price? Just a cool $21.5 million.
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For interiors fans, the third floor brings the designer’s Armani/Casa to the city in its first retail setting open to the public. The expansive space showcases the designer’s extensive collections of furniture and home accessories – from scented candles to leather-and-alabaster noughts and crosses sets. The furniture, including bar cabinets, lighting, sofas, and a bed, are displayed in vignettes. Meanwhile, an entire room is stocked with samples of Armani Casa’s fabrics and wallpapers, accessible by appointment.
Armani himself, who has an apartment overlooking Central Park, was thrilled with his first trip to the city since before the pandemic. ‘More vital and frenetic than ever, New York continues to look ahead,’ he says. ‘I am delighted to unveil the new building on Madison Avenue and to celebrate it with an event and the show. Developed with my team of architects, this project expresses a concept of luxury that deeply respects the culture and spirit of the place and is meant to be a lasting tribute to a city that has welcomed me and marked important moments in my career.’
