Italian Fashion Icon Valentino Dies At 93

Legendary Italian fashion designer, Valentino Garavani, has died at the age of 93.

His foundation announced his passing on Monday, confirming that the fashion icon died at his residence in Rome, surrounded by loved ones.

“Valentino Garavani passed away today at his Roman residence, surrounded by his loved ones,” the foundation said in a statement shared on Instagram.

Italian media reported that his body will lie in state on Wednesday and Thursday, while a funeral service is scheduled for Friday at 11:00 a.m. (1000 GMT) in Rome.

Italian Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, was among the first global leaders to pay tribute, describing Valentino as the “undisputed master of style and elegance and the eternal symbol of Italian high fashion.”

“Today, Italy loses a legend, but his legacy will continue to inspire generations. Thank you for everything,” Meloni wrote on X.

Born in Italy in 1932, Valentino developed an early love for cinema, a passion that later influenced his path into fashion. He first gained prominence in Paris before returning to Rome in 1959 to establish The House of Valentino, with support from his father and a business associate.

Valentino became globally renowned for the signature “Valentino Red,” a colour he once said was inspired by the red interiors of an opera house he visited in Barcelona, Spain.

Over several decades, he dressed some of the world’s most celebrated figures, including actress Elizabeth Taylor, whom he met in Rome in the 1960s. His career later expanded to the United States, with a move to New York in the 1970s, where his designs became a red carpet staple.

Hollywood stars such as Julia Roberts, Jennifer Lopez, and Anne Hathaway were among those who wore his gowns.

“Few people have devoted more energy to the pursuit of luxury than Valentino,” a 2005 New Yorker profile noted.

Alongside designers like Giorgio Armani and Karl Lagerfeld, Valentino was regarded as one of the last great figures of fashion’s golden era, before the industry became fully globalised and commercialised.

“I know what women want,” Valentino once said. “They want to be beautiful.”

In another tribute, his foundation described him as “not only a constant guide and inspiration for all of us, but a true source of light, creativity and vision.”

Valentino retired from active fashion design in 2008, leaving behind a legacy that continues to shape global haute couture.