Fashion Icon Valentino Dies at 93: Legacy That Shaped Style
Italian fashion icon Valentino Garavani, renowned for his luxurious designs and signature “Valentino red,” has passed away at the age of 93.
One of the giants of 20th-century fashion, Valentino's clothes were worn by 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 remained at the top of the profession alongside Giorgio Armani and Karl Lagerfeld.
In a statement posted on Instagram, the Valentino Garavani and Giancarlo Giammetti Foundation said: "He passed away peacefully at his home in Rome, surrounded by the love of his family."
The foundation said Valentino's body will lie in state in Rome's Piazza Mignanelli between January 21 and 22.
The foundation said Valentino's funeral service will be held the following day at the Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels and Martyrs.
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Born in Lombardy in May 1932, Valentino was known for his collections that exuded luxury, wealth, and grandeur.
When he was just 17, he moved to Paris to study at the Chambre Syndicale de la Couture Parisienne, and later worked with designers Jacques Fath, Balenciaga, Jean Dessès, and Guy Laroche.
Inspired by a trip to Spain, his adoption of the signature color "Valentino Red" brought the brand global fame with the debut of the iconic Fiesta dress.
It became so important to the house that for Valentino's last collection in 2008, all models wore red in the finale.
Valentino designed the wedding dress for Princess Madeleine of Sweden when she married British-American financier Christopher O'Neill in June 2013.
In December 2023, he was honored with the Outstanding Achievement Award at the British Fashion Awards, held at the Royal Albert Hall in London.
AFP via Getty Images English model and actress Elizabeth Hurley with Italian fashion designer Valentino Garavani at the Four Seasons Restaurant, New York City, circa 1997
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Former British Vogue editor-in-chief Alexandra Shulman told BBC Radio 4's PM program that every aspect of Valentino was "the epitome of glamour and luxury." "It's very sad news because he was the last of the great designers alive today, and I think his greatest contribution will be that he embodied what people wanted to see in a fashion designer," Shulman said.
"He didn't care much if he wasn't the most fashionable, latest designer, he just wanted to make clothes that were beautiful—and they were."
"He also maintained his celebrity clientele for a long time, starting with people like Jacqueline Kennedy, who wore Valentino clothes during mourning."
Shulman listed several Hollywood stars who have been big supporters of Valentino's designs over the past 15 years—including Paltrow, Nicole Kidman, and Jennifer Lopez.
Shulman added, "The red carpet becoming so popular in his later years helped him, because that's what his clothes were for."
"They weren't clothes you'd wear to the office—they were truly stunning gowns."
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