Legendary Italian fashion designer Valentino Garavani, widely known as Valentino, has died at the age of 93, marking the end of an era in global fashion.
Gatekeepers News reports that in a statement posted on Instagram, the Valentino Garavani and Giancarlo Giammetti Foundation said the designer “passed away peacefully in his Roman home, surrounded by the love of his family.”
Valentino, regarded as one of the giants of 20th-century fashion, dressed generations of royalty, celebrities and public figures, including Elizabeth Taylor, Nancy Reagan, Sharon Stone, Julia Roberts and Gwyneth Paltrow. He co-founded the Valentino fashion house in 1960 and stood alongside contemporaries such as Giorgio Armani and Karl Lagerfeld at the pinnacle of the industry.
The foundation announced that Valentino will lie in state at Rome’s Piazza Mignanelli on January 21 and 22, with his funeral scheduled for January 23 at the Basilica of Saint Mary of the Angels and Martyrs.
Born in Lombardy in May 1932, Valentino became synonymous with luxury, opulence and timeless elegance. He moved to Paris at the age of 17 to study at the Chambre Syndicale de la Couture Parisienne, later working with renowned designers including Jacques Fath, Balenciaga, Jean Dessès and Guy Laroche.
A defining moment of his career was the adoption of his signature “Valentino red,” inspired by a trip to Spain. The colour became emblematic of the fashion house, debuting famously in the iconic fiesta dress. Its significance was underlined in Valentino’s final collection in 2008, when all the models wore red gowns for the finale.
Among his most notable commissions was the wedding dress of Princess Madeleine of Sweden, worn during her marriage to Christopher O’Neill in June 2013. In December 2023, Valentino 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 Valentino as the embodiment of glamour and luxury.
“It is very sad news because he was one of the last of the great designers of the modern day,” Shulman told BBC Radio 4’s PM programme. “He just wanted to produce clothes that were beautiful – and they were.”
She noted that Valentino’s enduring appeal lay in his loyalty to his clientele, beginning with Jacqueline Kennedy, who famously wore his designs while in mourning.
Shulman added that stars such as Gwyneth Paltrow, Nicole Kidman and Jennifer Lopez remained devoted to his work, saying: “They weren’t something you slipped on to go to the office – they were really fabulous gowns.”
