At a Glance
- Legendary Italian designer Valentino Garavani died on January 19 at his home in Rome, aged 93
- He dressed some of the world’s most famous women, including Jennifer Aniston, Gwyneth Paltrow, Nicole Kidman, and Anne Hathaway
- A public lying in state will be held on January 21–22, with a funeral scheduled for January 23 in Rome
Valentino Garavani, the celebrated Italian couturier behind the globally renowned Valentino fashion house and the unmistakable shade known as Valentino red, has died at the age of 93.
The announcement was made on January 19 through posts shared on Valentino’s personal Instagram account and the official account of his foundation. According to the statement, the designer passed away peacefully at his residence in Rome, surrounded by loved ones.
The statement also outlined memorial arrangements: the public will be able to pay their respects during a lying in state at PM23, Piazza Mignanelli 23, on Wednesday, January 21, and Thursday, January 22, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. The funeral service will take place on Friday, January 23, at 11 a.m. at the Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli e dei Martiri in Rome.
Tributes from across the fashion world quickly followed. Former Valentino creative director Pierpaolo Piccioli responded simply with a broken-heart emoji, reflecting the industry’s collective sense of loss.
A Life Devoted to Beauty
Born Valentino Clemente Ludovico Garavani on May 11, 1932, in Voghera, Italy, Valentino pursued formal fashion training in Paris at both the École des Beaux-Arts and the Chambre Syndicale de la Couture Parisienne. He refined his craft through apprenticeships with legendary designers Jacques Fath and Cristóbal Balenciaga, before working for Jean Dessès and Guy Laroche.
He later returned to Italy, where he founded his own fashion house in Rome. In 1960, he met Giancarlo Giammetti, who became his longtime business partner and, for 12 years, his romantic partner. Together, they built Valentino into one of the most influential luxury brands in the world.
Dressing Icons and Defining Elegance
Valentino’s reputation soared after Jacqueline Kennedy purchased and wore six of his designs in the year following President John F. Kennedy’s assassination. She later chose a Valentino gown for her wedding to Aristotle Onassis, cementing the designer’s status as a favorite of powerful and glamorous women.
Over the decades, Valentino became synonymous with refined elegance and dressed generations of celebrities, including Gwyneth Paltrow, Nicole Kidman, Jennifer Aniston, Anne Hathaway, and many others.
“I know what women want,” Valentino said in the 2008 documentary Valentino: The Last Emperor. “They want to be beautiful.”
His cultural influence extended beyond fashion. He appeared as himself in The Devil Wears Prada (2006) and was the subject of the acclaimed 2008 documentary that followed the final years of his career, featuring appearances by Blake Lively, Uma Thurman, Elizabeth Hurley, Sarah Jessica Parker, and his beloved six pugs.
A Graceful Farewell
Valentino announced his retirement in 2007, explaining that he wished to step away while still at the height of his influence. “I would like to leave the party when it is still full,” he said at the time.
His final haute couture show took place in January 2008 at the Musée Rodin in Paris, an emotional moment for the fashion world. Actress Blake Lively called it “historic,” while Uma Thurman described Valentino as “one of the most elegant designers of our time.”
Honors and Personal Life
Throughout his career, Valentino received numerous international honors, including:
- Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur (France, 2006)
- Medal of the City of Paris (2008)
- Couture Council Award for Artistry of Fashion from FIT (2011)
- Golden Plate Award from the American Academy of Achievement (2017)
For more than four decades, Valentino shared his life with Bruce Hoeksema, former vice president of the Valentino fashion house, with whom he had lived since 1982.
Valentino Garavani leaves behind an enduring legacy of beauty, craftsmanship, and timeless elegance—one that reshaped haute couture and defined luxury for generations.
