Valentino Garavani, the legendary Italian fashion designer who founded the eponymous house known for its opulent and elegant women's wear, has died at the age of 93. His foundation announced the news on Instagram on Monday, stating that he passed away at his Roman residence surrounded by loved ones. The foundation described him as 'a true source of light, creativity and vision.'
Born in 1932 in Voghera, near Milan, Valentino was named after the silent film star Rudolph Valentino. He trained under Jean Dessès, Christian Dior, and Guy Laroche in Paris before launching his own label in 1959 at age 27. His signature red dress, a shade between crimson and poppy, became iconic and is officially recognised by Pantone. His first collection featured a red tulle dress called the Fiesta.
Valentino's clients included some of the most famous women of the 20th century, such as Sophia Loren, Elizabeth Taylor, and Jackie Kennedy, who wore his designs for several years in the 1960s and married Aristotle Onassis in a Valentino wedding dress in 1968. He also dressed Diana, Princess of Wales, in the years after her divorce. His career spanned more than 45 years, retiring in 2007 after a final haute couture show where every model wore a red dress.
In 1962, he met Giancarlo Giammetti, who became his life and business partner, saving the label from bankruptcy and helping it achieve global renown. The duo sold the company in 1998 to Italian conglomerate HdP for about $300m; it is now owned by Qatari investment fund Mayhoola, with Kering holding a 30% stake. Their jetset lifestyle was documented in the 2008 film Valentino: The Last Emperor.
Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni paid tribute, calling Valentino an 'undisputed master of style and elegance' and an 'eternal symbol of Italian high fashion.' His body will lie in state at the foundation's headquarters in Rome on Wednesday and Thursday, with a funeral scheduled for Friday.
