Valentino Garavani, the legendary Italian designer whose name became synonymous with timeless glamour and red-carpet perfection, has died at his home in Rome. He was 93. For decades, Valentino dressed the world’s most powerful and famous women, earning a reputation as the man who truly understood how to make women feel beautiful.
The Designer Who Defined Red-Carpet Glamour
Universally known simply as Valentino, he built an empire around refined femininity, flawless tailoring and his signature “Valentino red.” From the 1960s onward, his couture house remained a pillar of Italian fashion, long outlasting trends and even his own retirement in 2008.
His designs became a red-carpet staple for generations of royalty, first ladies and Hollywood stars, including Jackie Kennedy Onassis, Julia Roberts and Queen Rania of Jordan. Roberts famously wore a vintage black-and-white Valentino gown to accept her Academy Award in 2001, while Cate Blanchett chose a pale yellow Valentino dress for her Oscar win in 2004.
Valentino avoided shock tactics or provocation, instead perfecting a fail-safe formula of beauty, elegance and confidence. “I know what women want,” he once said. “They want to be beautiful.” His gowns relied on bows, lace, embroidery and ruffles, details that enhanced rather than overshadowed the women who wore them.
From Cinema Dreams to Fashion Royalty
Born on May 11, 1932, in Voghera, northern Italy, Valentino credited his love of cinema with inspiring his passion for fashion. He was captivated by the glamour of movie stars and their impeccable style, a fascination that would later define his work.
After studying in Milan and Paris, he trained under French designers Jean Desses and Guy Laroche before opening his own fashion house on Rome’s Via Condotti in 1959. Early supporters included Italian screen legends Gina Lollobrigida and Sophia Loren, as well as Hollywood icons Elizabeth Taylor and Audrey Hepburn. Influential Vogue editor Diana Vreeland also became an early champion of his talent.
One of his most famous creations was the lace wedding dress Jacqueline Kennedy wore when she married Aristotle Onassis in 1968. Valentino and Kennedy shared a close friendship, and for a time she wore almost nothing but his designs. He was also a favourite of Diana, Princess of Wales, whose wardrobe frequently featured his gowns.
A Life of Beauty, Luxury and Legacy
Valentino lived much like the jet-set elite he dressed. Always immaculately styled and famously tanned, he divided his time between homes in Rome, Paris, New York, London, Capri and Gstaad, often travelling with his longtime partner Giancarlo Giammetti and their beloved pugs. His lifestyle included a 46-metre yacht, a vast art collection and a 17th-century château near Paris surrounded by over a million roses.
Though admired for his aesthetic, Valentino was unapologetic about his belief in glamour and presentation. He often spoke of his sadness at seeing women dressed casually, insisting that beauty and effort were essential parts of life.
His fashion house expanded into ready-to-wear, menswear and accessories, and in 1998 he and Giammetti sold the brand for an estimated $300 million. Valentino remained creatively involved until his retirement a decade later. His career was celebrated through major museum exhibitions and the acclaimed 2008 documentary Valentino: The Last Emperor.
In a statement, his foundation described him as “a true source of light, creativity and vision.” Valentino’s body will lie in repose at the foundation’s headquarters in Rome on Wednesday and Thursday. His funeral will take place on Friday, January 23, at the Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli e dei Martiri in Rome.
With his passing, the fashion world loses not just a designer, but a symbol of enduring elegance.
