Valentino Garavani, the legendary Italian designer whose gowns defined glamour for generations of royals, Hollywood stars, and society’s elite, has passed away at his home in Rome at the age of 93. Known for his signature “Valentino red” and flawless, feminine designs, he remained a cornerstone of fashion from the 1960s well beyond his retirement in 2008.
Dressing the World’s Most Famous Women
Universally recognized by his first name, Valentino became synonymous with timeless elegance. He counted Jackie Kennedy Onassis, Princess Diana, Julia Roberts, and Queen Rania among his devoted clients. “I know what women want,” he famously said. “They want to be beautiful.”
Valentino’s fail-safe approach to design made him the go-to for red-carpet glamour, with gowns gracing countless Academy Awards, including Julia Roberts’ black-and-white column dress in 2001 and Cate Blanchett’s butter-yellow silk number in 2004. He also designed Jacqueline Kennedy’s lace wedding dress for her marriage to Aristotle Onassis, and maintained decades-long friendships with many of his clients, ensuring they always looked and felt their best. His trademark details—bows, lace, ruffles, and embroidery—added a delicate, feminine flair to every piece.
From Silver Screen Dreams to Global Fashion Empire
Born in Voghera, northern Italy, on May 11, 1932, Valentino credited his childhood love of cinema with shaping his eye for beauty. After studying fashion in Milan and Paris, he worked for designers Jean Dessès and Guy Laroche before opening his own house on Rome’s Via Condotti in 1959. Early admirers included Italian screen icons Gina Lollobrigida and Sophia Loren, as well as Hollywood legends Elizabeth Taylor and Audrey Hepburn. Vogue editor Diana Vreeland also championed the young designer, helping him achieve international renown.
A Life of Style, Luxury, and Influence
Valentino shared the glamorous lifestyle of his elite clientele. Alongside longtime partner Giancarlo Giammetti, he lived between homes in Rome, Paris, New York, London, Capri, and Gstaad, Switzerland. His possessions included a 46-metre yacht, a 17th-century Parisian château with over a million roses, and a prized art collection featuring Picasso and Miró. He traveled with his beloved pugs and entertained friends including Madonna and Gwyneth Paltrow.
Over the decades, Valentino expanded his brand to include ready-to-wear, menswear, and accessories. In 1998, he and Giammetti sold the label for an estimated $300 million, though he continued in a design role for another ten years. His work has been celebrated in retrospectives at institutions such as Paris’ Musée des Arts Décoratifs and documented in the 2008 film Valentino: The Last Emperor.
Valentino’s body will lie in 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 in Rome.
