the final collection the Italian designer worked on before his death. Originally intended as a celebration of 50 years of the late designer's fashion house, the catwalk show became a tribute to Armani following his death earlier this month aged 91. It took place at the Pinacoteca di Brera art gallery, where more than 120 of his creations are on show. Models who had walked for the designer over the past five decades returned to showcase a mix of classic suits and glittering dresses. They wore neutrals, greens, blues and purples, evoking the light, earth and sea, the AFP news agency reported.

The collection was inspired by the northern Italian city where Armani lived and the small volcanic island of Pantelleria, where he had a holiday home. Paper lanterns were laid across the courtyard, as they had been at a public viewing of Armani's body in Milan earlier this month, with the models walking under the portico. "This moment, this atmosphere speaks for itself. There's a lot of memories here tonight," Blanchett told AFP. The Oscar-winning actress also told Reuters that Armani was a "deeply human, talented individual".

The show was followed by a visit around the Giorgio Armani: Milano, Per Amore exhibition, which sees classic outfits, including Gere's suit from 1980 movie American Gigolo, set among Italian art masterpieces. Gere and his co-star Lauren Hutton were also in attendance, as were fellow film figures Samuel L Jackson, James Norton, Toni Servillo, Zhang Ziyi and Spike Lee. Lee told Reuters that Armani had been "an artist, humanitarian" and "a good guy".

The final dress in the show, a long-sleeved, blue glittering gown, worn by one of Armani's favourite models, Agnese Zogla, featured an image of his face, drawing a standing ovation from the 700 guests. "This collection, the last Giorgio Armani worked on personally, is in some ways a testament to style and the close of a cycle, so that new ones may begin," the brand said in the show's notes. Armani's niece Silvana Armani, and the late designer's partner and collaborator Leo Dell'Orco (pictured below), took a bow at the end. (BBC/Getty Images)