Valentino Garavani, the legendary Italian designer whose timeless gowns and signature “Valentino red” defined glamour for generations of celebrities and royals, has passed away at his home in Rome at the age of 93. Celebrated for his ability to make women feel beautiful, Valentino remained a towering figure in fashion from the 1960s through his retirement in 2008.
Dressing Legends: Royals, Stars, and the Red Carpet
Known simply as Valentino, the designer was a favorite among first ladies, royals, and Hollywood’s elite. Jackie Kennedy Onassis, Princess Diana, Julia Roberts, and Queen Rania of Jordan all trusted him to make them look their best. “I know what women want,” he once said. “They want to be beautiful.”
Valentino’s elegant, fail-safe gowns became a red-carpet staple, from Julia Roberts’ black-and-white Oscar dress in 2001 to Cate Blanchett’s one-shouldered yellow silk gown 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 his designs enhanced both their style and confidence. Signature details like bows, ruffles, lace, and embroidery made his creations both feminine and timeless.
From Cinema Dreams to Fashion Empire
Born on May 11, 1932, in Voghera, northern Italy, Valentino credited his childhood love of cinema with inspiring his passion for beauty and elegance. After studying fashion in Milan and Paris, he worked with 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, along with Hollywood legends Elizabeth Taylor and Audrey Hepburn. Vogue editor Diana Vreeland also recognized his talent and helped bring him to the international stage.
A Life of Glamour and Influence
Valentino’s life mirrored the elegance of his designs. Together with his longtime partner Giancarlo Giammetti, he lived among homes in Rome, Paris, New York, London, Capri, and Gstaad, Switzerland. He owned a 46-meter yacht, a Parisian château with over a million roses, and an art collection including Picasso and Miró. The couple traveled with their beloved pugs and entertained friends such as Madonna and Gwyneth Paltrow.
Over the years, Valentino expanded his brand to include ready-to-wear, menswear, and accessories. In 1998, he and Giammetti sold the label to an Italian holding company for an estimated $300 million, though he remained in a design role for another decade. Valentino’s career has been celebrated through retrospectives at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris and chronicled in the 2008 documentary Valentino: The Last Emperor.
Valentino’s body will repose at the 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.
