Italian Fashion Icon Valentino Garavani Dies at 93, Leaving Lasting Legacy in Haute Couture

Italian fashion icon Valentino Garavani, whose refined designs and signature red gowns shaped decades of haute couture, has died at the age of 93. His foundation announced he passed away peacefully at his home in Rome, surrounded by family.

Born in 1932 in Voghera, Italy, Valentino trained in Paris before founding his fashion house in Rome in 1959. He quickly rose to prominence for his elegant eveningwear, especially his vivid scarlet gowns that became so closely associated with his work they earned the name “Valentino red.”

In 1960, Valentino met Giancarlo Giammetti, his longtime business partner. Together, they transformed Valentino SpA into a globally recognized luxury brand. Early celebrity clients included Elizabeth Taylor, Audrey Hepburn, Joan Collins, and Jacqueline Kennedy, who famously wore a Valentino gown when she married Aristotle Onassis in 1968.

Valentino’s influence spanned generations. He spent much of the 1970s in New York, counting Andy Warhol and Vogue editor Diana Vreeland among his friends. In later decades, his designs were embraced by supermodels and Hollywood stars, regularly appearing on the Oscars red carpet worn by Jane Fonda, Julia Roberts, Jennifer Lopez, Cate Blanchett, and Anne Hathaway. In recent years, Zendaya, Carey Mulligan, and Gemma Chan continued the tradition.

Beyond fashion, Valentino was known for his polished personal style, love of art and antiques, passion for gardening, and devotion to his pug dogs. In 1998, he sold his company for roughly $300 million but continued working until retiring in 2008. His final show at Paris’ Musée Rodin featured a dramatic lineup of identical red gowns, marking the end of a remarkable career spanning more than 45 years.

Tributes poured in following news of his death. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni called him an eternal symbol of Italian haute couture, while fellow designers praised his craftsmanship, discipline, and enduring vision.

For many in the fashion world, Valentino’s passing marks the end of an era defined by old-world elegance and meticulous artistry.

Credit: CNN Newsource

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