Valentino Garavani
1932 - 2026
January 19, 2026
The world of fashion mourns the loss of one of its greatest masters. Valentino Garavani, the Italian designer who dressed generations of royalty, first ladies, and Hollywood stars in sumptuous gowns of unparalleled elegance, passed away today at his residence in Rome at the age of 93. His foundation announced that he died peacefully, surrounded by loved ones, marking the end of an era in haute couture.
Known universally by his first name alone, Valentino was more than a designer—he was an architect of dreams, a painter who worked in silk and lace rather than oils and canvas. For nearly half a century, from his first boutique opening in Rome in the early 1960s to his retirement in 2008, Valentino created not just clothing, but wearable works of art that made every woman who wore them feel transformed.
The Birth of an Icon
Born in 1932 in Voghera, a small town in Italy's Lombardy region, Valentino Garavani showed an early passion for fashion and beauty. After honing his skills in Paris—the epicenter of fashion in his youth—he returned to Italy with a vision that would forever change the landscape of Italian design. In 1960, with his business partner and lifelong companion Giancarlo Giammetti, Valentino founded the house that would bear his name and come to represent the pinnacle of Italian luxury.
His breakthrough came in 1962 when he closed that year's Pitti Immagine with a haute couture show that placed Rome—and Italy—definitively on the international fashion map. It was a moment that redefined Italian fashion, breaking through barriers that had long separated it from its French counterpart and projecting Italian design into the future.
A Philosophy of Timeless Elegance
Valentino's design philosophy was rooted in an unwavering belief in beauty, femininity, and refinement. In an industry increasingly drawn to edginess and provocation, Valentino remained steadfast in his commitment to elegance. His designs featured romantic embellishments—bows, ruffles, intricate lace, and exquisite embroidery—that enhanced rather than overwhelmed the wearer.
He understood instinctively that fashion should serve the woman, not the other way around. His creations were fail-safe, the opposite of fashion faux pas. They were designed to make women look and feel their absolute best, which explains why his client list read like a who's who of the world's most photographed women: Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Elizabeth Taylor, Audrey Hepburn, Princess Diana, Julia Roberts, and countless others trusted Valentino for their most important moments.
The Legacy of Valentino Red
Perhaps no single contribution better encapsulates Valentino's impact than his signature shade of red. Valentino Red—a distinctive orange-tinged vermillion—became so iconic that it entered the fashion lexicon as a color unto itself. This particular shade appeared repeatedly throughout his collections, gracing gowns that floated down runways and red carpets alike.
The color became synonymous with romance, passion, and timeless sophistication. It was bold without being brash, attention-commanding without being desperate for it. Like Valentino himself, it possessed an inherent nobility.
King of the Red Carpet
Valentino's designs became the gold standard for Hollywood's most glamorous moments. His sumptuous gowns graced countless Academy Awards ceremonies, creating some of cinema's most memorable fashion moments. When Julia Roberts accepted her Best Actress Oscar in 2001, she wore a vintage black and white Valentino column dress. When Cate Blanchett won Best Supporting Actress in 2004, she did so in a butter-yellow silk one-shouldered Valentino creation.
But perhaps no single garment better demonstrates Valentino's place in fashion history than the long-sleeved lace dress he designed for Jacqueline Kennedy's wedding to Aristotle Onassis in 1968. The former First Lady, one of the most style-conscious women of her generation, chose Valentino for one of the most scrutinized moments of her life. For a period, she wore almost exclusively Valentino, a testament to the designer's understanding of her aesthetic and needs.
A Life of Refinement
Valentino lived the lifestyle of the international jet-set he dressed. Perpetually tanned and impeccably attired, he owned a collection that included works by Picasso and Miró, a 152-foot yacht, and a 17th-century château near Paris. Yet this wasn't mere ostentation—it was the life of someone who genuinely appreciated beauty in all its forms and had dedicated himself to creating it.
His world was one of aristocrats, movie legends, and cultural icons—a more traditional and admittedly elitist circle than today's influencer-driven fashion landscape. But this old-world glamour was integral to the Valentino brand's identity, maintaining an aura of exclusivity and romance that set it apart even as fashion became increasingly commercialized.
The Final Bow and Beyond
When Valentino retired in 2008 after his final haute couture show in Paris, he left behind more than a fashion house—he left a template for what luxury fashion could be. The brand he built has continued to thrive, generating billions in revenue and adapting to contemporary tastes while maintaining the DNA of elegance he instilled.
His influence extends far beyond the company that bears his name. Valentino represented the last of a generation of designers—alongside Giorgio Armani and Karl Lagerfeld—who built their houses before fashion became the global, corporate-driven industry it is today. He came from an era when a single designer's vision could define a house, when haute couture was about craft and artistry rather than quarterly earnings reports.
Even in retirement, Valentino couldn't completely leave fashion behind, continuing to design dresses for opera productions. In 2011, he and Giammetti launched a virtual museum showcasing approximately 300 of his iconic pieces, ensuring that future generations could appreciate the artistry he brought to fashion.
Valentino once reflected on his life's work by saying he had been encouraging himself to appreciate beauty since childhood—in women, in men, in children, in paintings. He understood that beautiful things make life meaningful. In a world that often prioritizes the provocative over the beautiful, the shocking over the refined, Valentino's steadfast commitment to elegance feels not outdated but essential.
His body will lie in state at the foundation's headquarters in Rome on Wednesday and Thursday, with funeral services to be held Friday at the Basilica Santa Maria degli Angeli e dei Martiri.
The man behind Valentino may be gone, but his vision of beauty, his celebration of femininity, and his pursuit of perfection will continue to inspire designers and delight women for generations to come.
Grazie, Maestro.
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