Legendary Couturier Valentino Garavani Has Died at Age 93
The “last emperor” of fashion and global icon of Italian elegance has died, leaving behind an unparalleled legacy of beauty.
Summary
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Valentino Garavani, the legendary couturier and a foundational pillar of the fashion world, passed away Monday at his home in Rome at the age of 93, surrounded by family and loved ones
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Over a career spanning more than six decades, Valentino redefined global luxury by dressing icons such as Jacqueline Kennedy and Elizabeth Taylor while immortalizing the signature “Valentino Red” as a symbol of peak Italian elegance
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The maestro will lie in state at his foundation’s headquarters in Piazza Mignanelli this Wednesday and Thursday, followed by a funeral service at the Basilica Santa Maria degli Angeli e dei Martiri on Friday morning
The fashion world is in mourning following the death of Valentino Clemente Ludovico Garavani, a legendary couturier and an immovable pillar of the industry for over six decades. Valentino died on Monday, January 19 at his residence in Rome, surrounded by those closest to him. As the founder of the house that defined la dolce vita, he was more than a designer; he was the “Sheik of Chic” and fashion’s “last emperor,” a man who transformed the Roman couture scene into a global empire of absolute refinement.
Born in 1932 and named after the silent film star Rudolph Valentino, Garavani’s journey took him from a persistent 17-year-old in Paris to the salons of Via Condotti, where he launched his first collection in 1959. Alongside his lifelong partner Giancarlo Giammetti, Valentino built a kingdom founded on the pursuit of the “perfect dress.” His mastery of the feminine form earned him the devotion of history’s most influential women, from Jackie Kennedy and Elizabeth Taylor to Marella Agnelli, as well as paving the way for Italian fashion to break into Parisian couture ateliers.
His contribution to the visual language of fashion is immortalized by “Valentino Red,” a hue that became a hallmark of his career and was recently celebrated in the “Horizons | Red” exhibition at his foundation’s new cultural hub, PM23. Though he officially stepped away from the runway in 2008, his presence remained a guiding force in the industry. As he lies in state this week at Piazza Mignanelli, the fashion world pauses to honor a man whose life was a testament to the belief that beauty is the ultimate necessity. Valentino Garavani’s funeral is set for Friday, January 23 at the Basilica Santa Maria degli Angeli e dei Martiri, in Piazza della Repubblica 8 in Rome at 11 a.m. local time.
