“RIP”: Lindsey Vonn Devastated As She Joins Fashion World To Mourn Giorgio Armani’s Passing

Lindsey Vonn has never shied away from risk, whether it meant throwing herself down an icy mountain at 70 miles an hour or returning to the World Cup stage at 40 with a rebuilt knee. But this week, as she trained for another Olympic run toward Milano-Cortina 2026, Vonn paused to grieve a loss that cut deep beyond sport. The death of Giorgio Armani, the titan of modern fashion, who helped define her image away from the slopes.

The skiing legend posted a quiet tribute on Instagram after news broke that Armani had died at 91. Alongside a photograph of them, she wrote, “RIP Giorgio 🙏🏻.” The Armani Group confirmed his death on September 4, noting that a funeral chamber would be held in Milan on September 6 and 7, with a private ceremony to follow. The designer’s passing marked the end of an era for Italian style.

For Vonn, it was also personal. Her connection to Armani dates back to 2017, when she sat in the front row at his fall fashion show as a special guest, a moment documented by Emporio Armani’s official account. That same year, she appeared at the Sports Illustrated Fashionable 50 celebration in Los Angeles wearing a two-piece Giorgio Armani suit, accessorized with a satin clutch and white leather pumps. The tailored look emphasized her athletic frame while signaling her growing place in the fashion world. Armani’s influence was present in her choices, marrying strength with elegance, competition with poise.

Known in Italy as “Re Giorgio,” Armani built a company that generated more than €2.3 billion annually and commanded every detail of his empire, from advertising imagery to runway presentation. However, he had been unwell in recent months and was forced to miss Milan Men’s Fashion Week in June, marking his first career absence.

Now, his death has left a vacuum in fashion’s leadership, and tributes have poured in from across industries. Vonn’s acknowledgment placed her among those for whom Armani’s artistry was not abstract but lived, worn, and remembered.

As Vonn continues to grind through punishing gym sessions, what she has described as “stepping into the pain cave”, she remains on course to become the oldest ski racer in American Olympic history. Yet her tribute to Armani shows that her legacy extends past medals and records.

In her final Olympic season, she carries not only the weight of her sport but also the memory of those who shaped her off the mountain. Her farewell to ski racing may be near, but this week reminded the world that some goodbyes strike with equal force. Lindsey Vonn used Giorgio Armani’s Milan showcase to honor both her scars and their friendship.

Lindsey Vonn celebrates scars as beauty in powerful tribute to Giorgio Armani

Lindsey Vonn’s bond with Armani shone bright with her presence at Giorgio Armani’s Milan showcase. The Olympic skier appeared in a tailored black sleeveless gown that revealed the long scar running down her right arm, a feature she chose to highlight rather than disguise. The decision fit seamlessly into the atmosphere of the evening, where fashion intersected with individuality, and her words captured the spirit of that connection.

“My scars remind me that I am strong and beautiful,” she remarked on social media, directly crediting the designer, “Thank you #GiorgioArmani.”

Her choice to wear that particular dress to Armani’s presentation seemed less a matter of style than of trust in a designer she evidently admired. In allowing his creation to frame, rather than conceal, a mark from one of her most difficult injuries, Vonn underscored the partnership between athlete and couturier. The attire emphasized her resilience in a manner that elevated Armani’s work while affirming her own self-possession. The mutual acknowledgment, her public gratitude, and Armani’s platform suggested a dialogue between the two that resonated far beyond the venue.

Vonn’s acceptance of her scars had been evident before, but in Milan, her appreciation of Armani’s artistry offered a deeper layer. She was not merely presenting herself in an evening dress. She was acknowledging a designer whose work provided the setting in which she could assert both strength and beauty.

Now the sudden demise of the stalwart has left hearts shattered and shocked. May his soul rest in peace.