Italian fashion icon Valentino Garavani, known simply as Valentino, has died at the age of 93, marking the end of an era for one of the most influential figures in 20th century fashion.
Valentino, whose creations were synonymous with glamour and elegance, dressed some of the world’s most famous women, including Elizabeth Taylor, Nancy Reagan, Sharon Stone, Julia Roberts and Gwyneth Paltrow. He co-founded the Valentino fashion house in 1960 and rose to the pinnacle of haute couture, alongside contemporaries such as Giorgio Armani and Karl Lagerfeld.
In a statement shared on Instagram, the Valentino Garavani and Giancarlo Giammetti Foundation said he “passed away peacefully in his Roman home, surrounded by the love of his family.”
The foundation confirmed that Valentino will lie in state at Rome’s Piazza Mignanelli on 21 and 22 January, with his funeral service scheduled for the following day at the Basilica of Saint Mary of the Angels and Martyrs.
Born in Lombardy in May 1932, Valentino was celebrated for collections that embodied luxury, opulence and refined elegance. At just 17, he moved to Paris to study at the Chambre Syndicale de la Couture Parisienne, later working with legendary designers including Jacques Fath, Balenciaga, Jean Dessès and Guy Laroche.
A defining feature of his legacy was the creation of his signature “Valentino red”, inspired by a trip to Spain. The colour became central to the brand’s identity and was famously showcased in his iconic fiesta dress. So symbolic was the shade that, for his final collection in 2008, every model appeared in red for the finale.
Among his many high-profile commissions, Valentino designed the wedding gown of Princess Madeleine of Sweden for her marriage to Christopher O’Neill in 2013.
In December 2023, he received the Outstanding Achievement Award at the British Fashion Awards at London’s Royal Albert Hall. Former British Vogue editor-in-chief Alexandra Shulman described him as a designer who “epitomised glamour and luxury.”
“He was one of the last great designers of the modern era,” Shulman said in an interview with BBC Radio 4. “He wasn’t chasing trends, he simply wanted to create beautiful clothes, and he did.”
She noted that Valentino maintained long-standing relationships with his celebrity clientele, from Jacqueline Kennedy in his early years to Hollywood stars such as Gwyneth Paltrow, Nicole Kidman and Jennifer Lopez in later decades.
“His clothes were made for the red carpet,” Shulman added. “They weren’t for the office, they were truly fabulous gowns.”
Valentino’s passing leaves a towering legacy in global fashion, one stitched with elegance, colour and an unmistakable flair for timeless beauty. A designer who quite literally made the world a little more glamorous and did so in red.