Valentino Garavani, the legendary Italian designer whose name became synonymous with high fashion and timeless elegance, has died at age 93. Known for his signature “Valentino red” and a career spanning nearly five decades, Valentino dressed some of the world’s most iconic women, from Jackie Kennedy to Julia Roberts. His legacy is one of unparalleled glamour, craftsmanship, and an unwavering commitment to beauty.
Valentino Garavani, the jet-set Italian designer whose high-glamour gowns became a staple of fashion shows for nearly half a century, has died at his home in Rome. His foundation announced the news on social media, marking the end of an era for one of fashion’s most influential figures. Valentino was 93.
“Valentino Garavani was not only a constant guide and inspiration for all of us, but a true source of light, creativity and vision,” the foundation said in a statement. His body will lie in repose at the foundation’s headquarters in Rome on Wednesday and Thursday, with a funeral to be held Friday at the Basilica Santa Maria degli Angeli e dei Martiri in Rome’s Piazza della Repubblica.
A Life Dedicated to Beauty and Elegance
Universally known by his first name, Valentino was adored by generations of royals, first ladies, and movie stars. From Jackie Kennedy Onassis to Julia Roberts and Queen Rania of Jordan, his designs made women look and feel their best. His signature shade, “Valentino red,” became a symbol of sophistication and glamour.
“I know what women want,” he once remarked. “They want to be beautiful.” This philosophy guided his nearly half-century-long career, which stretched from his early days in Rome in the 1960s through to his retirement in 2008. Valentino’s fail-safe designs made him the king of the red carpet, the go-to designer for A-listers’ awards ceremony needs.
One of the most memorable moments in Valentino’s career came in 2001, when Julia Roberts wore a vintage black and white column dress by Valentino to accept her best actress statue at the Academy Awards. This moment cemented Valentino’s status as a red carpet legend. Cate Blanchett also wore Valentino—a one-shouldered number in butter-yellow silk—when she won the Oscar for best supporting actress in 2005.
A Designer for the Elite
Valentino’s designs were not just for Hollywood stars. He was also the designer behind the long-sleeved lace dress Jacqueline Kennedy wore for her wedding to Greek shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis in 1968. The dress caused a sensation in the United States, and in 1970, Valentino became the first Italian designer to open a shop in New York.
Kennedy and Valentino were close friends for decades, and for a spell, the one-time U.S. first lady wore almost exclusively Valentino. He was also close to Diana, Princess of Wales, who often donned his sumptuous gowns. Over the years, Valentino would elevate the “Made in Italy” label to global prominence.
The Valentino Aesthetic
Beyond his signature orange-tinged shade of red, other Valentino trademarks included bows, ruffles, lace, and embroidery—feminine, flirty embellishments that added to the dresses’ beauty and hence to that of the wearers. Perpetually tanned and always impeccably dressed, Valentino shared the lifestyle of his jet-set patrons.
In addition to his 152-foot yacht and an art collection including works by Picasso and Miro, the couturier owned a 17th-century chateau near Paris with a garden said to boast more than a million roses. Valentino and his longtime partner Giancarlo Giammetti flitted among their homes—which also included places in New York, London, Rome, Capri, and Gstaad, Switzerland—traveling with their pack of pugs.
From Humble Beginnings to Global Fame
Valentino was born into a well-off family in the northern Italian town of Voghera on May 11, 1932. He said it was his childhood love of cinema that set him down the fashion path. “I was crazy for silver screen, I was crazy for beauty, to see all those movie stars being sensation, well dressed, being always perfect,” he explained in a 2007 television interview.
After studying fashion in Milan and Paris, he spent much of the 1950s working for established Paris-based designer Jean Desses and later Guy Laroche before striking out on his own. He founded the house of Valentino on Rome’s Via Condotti in 1959. From the beginning, Giammetti was by his side, handling the business aspect while Valentino used his natural charm to build a client base among the world’s rich and fabulous.
A Lasting Legacy
Valentino’s empire expanded as the designer added ready-to-wear, menswear, and accessories lines to his stable. Valentino and Giammetti sold the label to an Italian holding company for an estimated $300 million in 1998. Valentino would remain in a design role for another decade.
In 2007, the couturier feted his 45th anniversary in fashion with a three-day-long blowout in Rome, capped with a grand ball in the Villa Borghese gallery. Valentino retired in 2008 and was briefly replaced by fellow Italian Alessandra Facchinetti, who had stepped into Tom Ford’s shoes at Gucci before being sacked after two seasons.
Valentino has been the subject of several retrospectives, including one at the Musee des Arts Decoratifs, which is housed in a wing of Paris’ Louvre Museum. He was also the subject of a hit 2008 documentary, “Valentino: The Last Emperor,” that chronicled the end of his career in fashion.
In 2011, Valentino and Giammetti launched what they called a “virtual museum,” a free desktop application that allows viewers to feast their eyes on about 300 of the designer’s iconic pieces.
Valentino’s death marks the end of an era in fashion. His legacy, however, will continue to inspire designers and fashion lovers around the world. His commitment to beauty, elegance, and craftsmanship has left an indelible mark on the industry.
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