We lost a true fashion giant this week. Valentino Garavani passed away at the age of 93 in his Roman home, surrounded by friends and family. His name is synonymous with luxury, elegance, and modern glamour.

Although Valentino officially retired from designing in 2008, his presence never left fashion. After 45 years at the helm of the house he built himself, he took his final runway bow during the Spring couture season in Rome. The show closed with models all wearing the same iconic Valentino red dress—a powerful, emotional finale. Even in retirement, Valentino remained a visible and supportive force, cheering on Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pierpaolo Piccioli as they stepped into the role of co-creative directors, and continuing to grace red carpets with his unmistakable presence. 

From Milan To Paris To Rome: A Singular Vision

Born in 1932 near Milan, Valentino Garavani found his way to fashion early, studying briefly in Milan before moving to Paris to apprentice with Jean Dessès and Guy Laroche. After returning to Italy, he opened his own fashion house in 1960 on Rome’s Via Condotti—an audacious move at the time. What followed was extraordinary.

Valentino built one of the most influential couture houses outside of Paris, redefining Italian luxury on a global scale. His alluring crimson gowns became legendary, eventually earning the name “Valentino red.” That same year, he met Giancarlo Giammetti, his lifelong business and life partner, whose role was instrumental in shaping the brand’s success.

As the house expanded globally, the name Valentino came to represent the fashion house itself, while Valentino Garavani was used to clearly distinguish the designer—the man—behind the vision. Over time, “Valentino Garavani” also became the label most closely associated with the brand’s luxury accessories (handbags, shoes, Rockstuds and VLogos), honoring his full name andd preserving the legacy of the founder at the heart of it all.

Dressing Women—And History

Valentino dressed some of the most iconic women of the 20th century: Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis (including her second wedding dress), Elizabeth Taylor, Nan Kempner, and countless others. But more than that, he dressed women with confidence. His designs gave women permission to feel powerful, glamorous, and completely themselves.

Through the 1960s, ’70s, and ’80s, Valentino helped define what opulent luxury looked like. From a perfectly cut coat to a dramatic, romantic gown, every piece carried elegance, sophistication, and quiet authority. You didn’t just wear Valentino—you arrived in it.

As a child, I remember seeing modern looks like these in magazines and feeling completely captivated. It was the beginning of my lifelong love of fashion.

 

Valentino On The Red Carpet

Valentino’s influence didn’t stop at couture salons—it lived on the red carpet. Who could forget Julia Roberts accepting her Best Actress Oscar in 2001 for Erin Brockovich in a vintage black-and-white Valentino gown? To this day, that dress is more memorable to me than the movie itself.

From Halle Berry’s Golden Globe-winning moment in 2000  to Anne Hathaway attending the Oscars alongside Valentino himself in 2011, his designs consistently created fashion history. Valentino understood spectacle—but he also understood restraint, which is why his red carpet moments still feel timeless.

In the end, Valentino Garavani’s legacy can be distilled to a single, unforgettable color. Valentino red wasn’t just a hue—it was confidence, romance, and power woven into fabric. It was the final bow of a career that never needed to shout to be heard. And as fashion moves forward, that red will always remain—timeless, iconic, and unmistakably Valentino.

The lying in state will be held at PM23 in Piazza Mignanelli 23 in Rome on January 21 and 22, and a funeral will take place on January 23 at the Basilica Santa Maria degli Angeli e dei Martiri, in Piazza della Repubblica 8 in Rome, at 11 am.

You may also like to read Best Ways to Wear Shorts for Women Over 50: Valentino and  Golden Globes 2026 Red Carpet Fashion: Top Trends That Ruled the Night

Photos and Sources: Vogue, Harpers Bazaar, Valentino: A Grand Italian Epic published by Rizzoli, The Washington Post

Feature photo: Valentino Garavani in Rome with models 1999. Photo: Pascal Chevallier / Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images

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