Valentino Garavani, Icon of Italian Glamour, Dies at 93
Valentino Garavani, Icon of Italian Glamour, Dies at 93
Iconic fashion designer Valentino Garavani dies at 93 in Rome, leaving a lasting legacy of glamour, red-carpet couture and timeless elegance.
Valentino Garavani, the designer behind one of the most enduring names in couture, has died at 93 at his Rome residence, his foundation announced. The fashion icon’s body will lie in state at the foundation’s Rome headquarters on Wednesday and Thursday, with his funeral scheduled to take place in the Italian capital on Friday. Tributes poured in from across the world of fashion and politics as the industry reflected on a career that defined luxury and glamour.
Valentino founded his eponymous house in 1959 and spent more than four decades at the crest of global fashion, cultivating a look described as opulent, elegant and unmistakably Italian. He dressed generations of icons and public figures, turning the red dress into a signature hallmark that captivated audiences worldwide.
Throughout his career, he drew admirers from Sophia Loren to Elizabeth Taylor, and his designs featured prominently in film and high society. Jackie Kennedy wore Valentino during the 1960s, becoming a lasting symbol of the designer’s refined glamour. The shade of red he popularized—between crimson and poppy—became so iconic that Pantone later recognized it as a distinct color standard associated with his work.
Valentino stepped back from active design life in 2007 after a final haute couture show where every model wore a red dress, leaving behind a vast legacy that transformed a couture house into a global luxury empire. His name and vision continue to influence fashion, ensuring that the era of Valentino remains a reference point for elegance and high fashion across generations.
