Italian fashion legend Valentino Garavani, celebrated for his timeless elegance and iconic red gowns, has died at the age of 93. His foundation confirmed that the designer passed away peacefully at his residence in Rome, surrounded by family.
Born in 1932 in Voghera, northern Italy, Valentino trained in haute couture in Paris before founding his fashion house in Rome in 1959. He quickly rose to prominence, becoming synonymous with refined glamour and his signature scarlet shade, famously known as “Valentino red.”
In 1960, Valentino met Giancarlo Giammetti, his longtime business and former romantic partner. Together, they transformed Valentino SpA into a global luxury brand. Among his earliest and most devoted clients were Elizabeth Taylor, Audrey Hepburn, Jackie Kennedy Onassis, Queen Paola of Belgium, and Begum Aga Khan. Jackie Kennedy notably wore a Valentino gown for her 1968 wedding to Aristotle Onassis.
Valentino’s influence spanned decades. He was a fixture in New York’s cultural elite during the 1970s and later became a favorite of 1990s supermodels such as Naomi Campbell and Claudia Schiffer. His designs became red-carpet staples, worn by Oscar winners including Jane Fonda, Julia Roberts, Cate Blanchett, Anne Hathaway, and, in more recent years, Zendaya, Carey Mulligan, and Gemma Chan.
Known personally as much as professionally for his immaculate style, Valentino was also an avid art collector, lover of flowers, and devoted owner of several pug dogs—whom he famously said mattered more to him than fashion collections.
In 1998, he sold his company for an estimated $300 million but continued working until his retirement in 2008, ending a career that spanned more than 45 years. His farewell was marked by a grand show at the Musée Rodin in Paris, featuring models dressed in identical Valentino red gowns.
Valentino leaves behind an enduring legacy as one of the most influential designers in fashion history, whose vision of elegance defined generations and reshaped global haute couture.
