Valentino Garavani, the iconic Italian designer whose name became shorthand for timeless glamour, has died at his home in Rome aged 93. For decades, his luxurious gowns and flawless tailoring made him the designer of choice for women who wanted to shine on the world’s biggest stages.
Dressing the World’s Most Famous Women
Known simply as Valentino, he dressed an extraordinary roster of royals, first ladies and film stars, all of whom trusted his instinct for elegance. From Jackie Kennedy Onassis and Princess Diana to Julia Roberts and Queen Rania of Jordan, his clients often said his designs made them feel confident, beautiful and effortlessly refined.
“I know what women want,” he once said. “They want to be beautiful.” That philosophy shaped a career defined by consistency rather than provocation. Valentino avoided shock fashion, instead perfecting gowns that were flattering, graceful and reliable. His creations became red-carpet staples, appearing year after year at the Academy Awards. Julia Roberts’ black-and-white column gown in 2001 and Cate Blanchett’s pale yellow silk dress in 2004 remain among his most memorable Oscar moments.
His influence extended beyond Hollywood. He designed Jacqueline Kennedy’s lace wedding dress for her marriage to Aristotle Onassis in 1968 and maintained close friendships with both Kennedy and Diana, Princess of Wales, who frequently wore his designs.
From Film Dreams to Fashion Legend
Born on May 11, 1932, in the northern Italian town of Voghera, Valentino credited his love of cinema with inspiring his fascination with beauty and style. After studying in Milan and Paris, he worked under French designers Jean Dessès and Guy Laroche before launching his own fashion house on Rome’s Via Condotti in 1959.
Early supporters included Italian screen icons Gina Lollobrigida and Sophia Loren, as well as Hollywood royalty such as Elizabeth Taylor and Audrey Hepburn. Influential Vogue editor Diana Vreeland also championed the young designer, helping him gain international recognition.
Valentino’s signature aesthetic was unmistakable: rich fabrics, meticulous craftsmanship, bows, lace, embroidery and, of course, his famous orange-tinged “Valentino red,” a color that became synonymous with glamour.
A Life as Polished as His Designs
Always impeccably dressed and famously tanned, Valentino lived the jet-set life of his clientele. Alongside longtime partner Giancarlo Giammetti, he moved between homes in Rome, Paris, New York, London, Capri and Switzerland, traveled with his beloved pugs, and entertained friends such as Madonna and Gwyneth Paltrow. His world included a 46-metre yacht, a vast art collection and a 17th-century château near Paris surrounded by more than a million roses.
The Valentino brand expanded over time to include ready-to-wear, menswear and accessories. In 1998, Valentino and Giammetti sold the label for an estimated $300 million, though the designer remained creatively involved until his retirement in 2008. His legacy was celebrated in major museum retrospectives and the acclaimed 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 take place on Friday, January 23, at 11:00 a.m. at the Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli e dei Martiri in Rome.
