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Sep. 19, 2025
MILAN, ITALY - MAY 01: Fashion designer Giorgio Armani playing with his dogs at home. (Photo by David Lees/Getty Images)

The late Giorgio Armani was very fond of film, quality fabric, and, clearly, his dogs.
David Lees/The Chronicle Collection/Getty Images

For those who celebrate, it’s fashion week season. We’re currently leaving behind New York Fashion Week and starting up London Fashion Week with Milan and Paris on the horizon. It’s not exactly my scene, but as someone who has long worked in magazines and is now at BDG Media, Fatherly’s parent company and home to such fashion-forward publications asW Magazine ([link removed]) ,NYLON ([link removed]) ,The Zoe Report ([link removed]) , andBustle ([link removed]) , I consume a fair share of fashion content, even if by accident.

As such, it was impossible to miss the loss of Giorgio Armani, the fashion icon who died earlier this month at the age of 91. Armani, I’ve learned ([link removed]) , was personally somewhat shy. I found that surprising. In my hazy understanding, this was the man who dressed Hollywood for an era, thrust the red carpet into fashion prominence, cut the boxy suit down in the ‘80s, and birthed the modern suit, fully formed in 1980 on Richard Gere in American Gigolo. If you’ve seen his picture, it was often with the biggest celebrities, looking at ease, smiling, living it up. And while he outspokenly loved Hollywood and film, he reportedly preferred to stay in at one of his palatial homes (cliffside villa in Antigua, anyone?) with a close circle.

When it comes to fashion, I know a fair share of men who, like myself, are a bit shy about their own style. I often think what I wear is entirely for me — for my confidence and enjoyment rather than mimicry or messaging. I don’t need an Armani quote to know it’s more than that, but it doesn’t hurt: “Elegance is not standing out, but being remembered.” Maybe my clothes aren’t just for me.

I bought a suit this month. It’s my first since the pandemic and second in many more years. I went in for this big purchase in part because my lineup of suits didn’t quite fit as well as they once did (you’ll have that), because I was ready for something new, and in no small part because of the pathetic sartorial display that presented itself on the first day of school.

I love when parents share first-day-of-school pictures and there is care in it — hair recently cut and more recently combed, shirts with collars or at least no wrinkles, thoughtfully matched outfits, and cool shoes. My one friend even tucked their twin first-graders’ button-down shirts in for the picture. I doubt it lasted an hour, but the kids looked great.

I, on the other hand, allowed the summer tradition to continue, letting my third-grader dress himself — without care and with great abandon. For his first day, he put on his most tattered, bright yellow sweatpants with a mismatched Pokemon shirt he didn’t even make eye contact with. “Oh come on, look nice,” I said. “Why?” he asked, genuinely curious. We negotiated and settled on jeans, an actually nice tie-dye T-shirt, and black Vans (no Crocs!). He didn’t smile for the picture.

Days later, I decided to lead by example.

“Why are you dressed like that?” my son asked when I left for work in my new suit, a handsome custom blue number from Todd Snyder ([link removed]) , the renowned designer who wore Armani to his own New York Fashion Week show a few days ago. I wasn’t entirely sure what to say. “Do you like it?” He nodded, with a slightly furrowed brow. I may have given him something to think about.

I have a high schooler who found their look recently. It’s a goth-punk meets anime sort of style, that is precise, carefully envisioned, and well executed. I don’t care that it takes 30 minutes in the bathroom to ready that look every morning. I work my schedule around it. Because when you’re 13, your style is everything. It’s not just a way to help you to stand out, but to be remembered.

Tyghe Trimble,

Fatherly

FURTHER READING
Todd Snyder On Menswear Today & What We Get Wrong About Dad Style ([link removed])
This Is The Best Sneaker And Selvedge Jeans Combination Ever ([link removed])
7 Profiles Of Stylish Dads And How They Get Their Look ([link removed])
The New Rule Of Shopping For Men ([link removed])
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