Valentino Garavani, the Italian designer whose glamorous creations defined red-carpet style for decades, has passed away at his home in Rome. Known for his signature “Valentino red” gowns and timeless designs, he remained a major influence on fashion from the 1960s through his retirement in 2008.
A Life Dedicated to Elegance
Valentino, known simply by his first name, was adored by royals, celebrities, and first ladies alike. Jackie Kennedy Onassis, Princess Diana, Julia Roberts, and Queen Rania of Jordan all praised him for making them look and feel their best. “I know what women want,” he famously said. “They want to be beautiful.”
His gowns became red-carpet staples, from Julia Roberts’ vintage black-and-white column dress at the 2001 Oscars to Cate Blanchett’s butter-yellow one-shoulder 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 elegance and sophistication at every event.
From Cinema Dreams to Global Fashion House
Born on May 11, 1932, in Voghera, northern Italy, Valentino’s childhood love of cinema inspired his aesthetic. After studying fashion in Milan and Paris, he worked for designers 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, as well as Hollywood legends Elizabeth Taylor and Audrey Hepburn. Vogue editor Diana Vreeland recognized his talent early, helping him achieve international renown.
Glamour Beyond the Runway
Valentino shared the jet-set lifestyle of his elite clientele. Alongside his longtime partner Giancarlo Giammetti, he lived between homes in Rome, Paris, New York, London, Capri, and Gstaad, Switzerland. He owned a 46-metre yacht, a 17th-century Parisian château with over a million roses, and an art collection including works by Picasso and Miró. Valentino traveled with his pugs and entertained A-list friends such as Madonna and Gwyneth Paltrow.
Over the years, Valentino expanded his brand to include ready-to-wear, menswear, and accessories. He and Giammetti sold the label in 1998 for an estimated $300 million, though he continued in a design role for another decade. His work has been celebrated in retrospectives at Paris’ Musée des Arts Décoratifs and chronicled in the 2008 documentary Valentino: The Last Emperor.
Valentino’s body will lie in repose at his foundation’s headquarters in Rome on Wednesday and Thursday. His funeral will be held on Friday, January 23, at 11:00 a.m. at the Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli e dei Martiri in Rome.
