Valentino Garavani, the Italian fashion designer whose timeless gowns and signature “Valentino red” made him the king of the red carpet, has passed away at his home in Rome at the age of 93. His creations adorned generations of royals, celebrities, and first ladies, cementing his place as one of the most influential figures in fashion history.
A Life Devoted to Elegance
Universally known simply as Valentino, he was famed for his ability to make women feel beautiful. From Jackie Kennedy Onassis to Julia Roberts and Queen Rania of Jordan, his clients praised his keen eye and elegant designs. “I know what women want,” he once said. “They want to be beautiful.” Valentino’s gowns became synonymous with red-carpet perfection, featuring delicate embellishments such as bows, lace, ruffles, and embroidery. He dressed stars at countless Academy Awards, including Roberts’ black-and-white column dress in 2001 and Cate Blanchett’s butter-yellow silk gown in 2004. He also designed Jacqueline Kennedy’s long-sleeved lace wedding dress for her marriage to Aristotle Onassis and maintained a decades-long friendship with the former First Lady.
From Cinema Dreams to Fashion Empire
Born on May 11, 1932, in Voghera, northern Italy, Valentino credited his childhood love of cinema with inspiring his passion for beauty and design. After studying fashion in Milan and Paris, he worked for Jean Dessès and Guy Laroche before opening his own house on Rome’s Via Condotti in 1959. Early supporters included Italian screen icons Gina Lollobrigida and Sophia Loren, as well as Hollywood legends Elizabeth Taylor and Audrey Hepburn. Diana Vreeland, the legendary Vogue editor, helped elevate him to international prominence. Over the decades, Valentino expanded his brand to include ready-to-wear, menswear, and accessories, eventually selling the label in 1998 while remaining a guiding creative force for another ten years.
A Life of Glamour Beyond the Runway
Valentino lived the glamorous lifestyle of his jet-set clients. Together with his longtime partner Giancarlo Giammetti, he traveled between homes in Rome, Paris, New York, London, Capri, and Gstaad, Switzerland, often accompanied by their pugs. He owned a 46-metre yacht, a 17th-century Parisian château with over a million roses, and a prized art collection featuring Picasso and Miró. Valentino’s impeccable style and devotion to elegance extended beyond fashion, shaping the very way he lived and interacted with the world around him.
Valentino’s body will repose at his foundation’s headquarters in Rome on Wednesday and Thursday. His funeral will take place on Friday, January 23, at 11:00 a.m. at the Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli e dei Martiri, Piazza della Repubblica, Rome.
