Valentino Garavani, the legendary Italian couturier, has died at his residence in Rome. He was 93. His passing marks the end of an era in the history of global fashion.
The news was announced on January 19 (local time) via Valentino Garavani’s official Instagram account and his foundation. The statement read: “Our founder, Valentino Garavani, passed away today at his Roman residence, surrounded by his loved ones.”
His body will lie in state at PM23, located at Piazza Mignanelli 23 in Rome, where the public will be able to pay their respects on Wednesday and Thursday from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. The funeral will take place on Friday at 11:00 a.m. at the Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli e dei Martiri, in Piazza della Repubblica, Rome.
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Establishing Italian Haute Couture
The aesthetic legacy shaped by Valentino Clemente Ludovico Garavani defined not only his own maison but also the very identity of Italian fashion.
Looking back on his career, one of the most significant decisions Garavani made was choosing Rome—rather than Paris, then the unquestioned center of fashion—as the base for his creative work. That choice elevated him from a master couturier to a figure who helped establish a distinctly Italian system of haute couture.
Born on May 11, 1932, in Voghera in northern Italy, Garavani studied in Paris at the École des Beaux-Arts and the Chambre Syndicale de la Couture Parisienne. He honed the rigorous techniques of couture through his training with Jacques Fath and Cristóbal Balenciaga, before gaining further experience in the ateliers of Jean Dessès and Guy Laroche. He ultimately returned to Rome, where he founded his own fashion house.
In 1960, Garavani met Giancarlo Giammetti, with whom he would go on to build a long-lasting partnership, both personal and professional. Together, they established a clear division between creative direction and business strategy, allowing Valentino to become a rare example of a maison that successfully balanced artistry and enterprise.
A defining moment came in 1962, when Valentino presented an haute couture collection at Pitti Immagine in Florence. The show brought international attention to his work and played a pivotal role in positioning Rome—and Italy more broadly—as an alternative center of haute couture alongside Paris.
The Legacy of “Valentino Red”
Among the most enduring symbols of Garavani’s legacy is his signature shade of vivid red, widely known as “Valentino Red,” which became inseparable from the identity of the house.
One of the moments that cemented its global recognition was its adoption by Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. In the period following the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, she repeatedly chose Valentino’s designs, and later selected a Valentino gown for her marriage to Aristotle Onassis.
Over the decades, the maison has continued to dress leading actresses and public figures, including Jennifer Aniston and Nicole Kidman, who have worn Valentino on red carpets around the world, embodying the brand’s timeless elegance.
From Fashion Authority to Cultural Icon
Valentino’s stature extended well beyond the fashion industry. In 2006, he appeared as himself in the film The Devil Wears Prada, further cementing his place in popular culture.
His final years were documented in the 2008 film Valentino: The Last Emperor, which chronicled the last two years of his career. The documentary featured appearances by Gwyneth Paltrow, Anne Hathaway, Elizabeth Hurley, and Sarah Jessica Parker, offering an intimate look at both his private life and his creative process.
An Honored Legacy
Garavani’s contributions were recognized with numerous prestigious honors. In 2006, he was named a Chevalier of the Légion d’Honneur by French President Jacques Chirac. He received the Medal of the City of Paris in 2008, followed by the Couture Council Award for Artistry of Fashion from the Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York in 2011. In 2017, he was awarded the Golden Plate Award by the American Academy of Achievement. Together, these honors reflect his status as a cultural figure whose influence transcended national boundaries.
In his later years, Valentino lived a quiet life away from the spotlight with his lifelong partner, Bruce Hoeksema, with whom he had shared his life since 1982.
A Legacy That Endures
Following the announcement of his passing, Pierpaolo Piccioli—who joined Valentino in 1999 and served as the brand’s sole creative director from 2016 until March 2024—shared his grief with a broken-heart emoji. For Piccioli, known for his deep emotional connection to the house, the loss of its founder is immeasurable.
As of April 2024, the role of creative director at Valentino has been held by Alessandro Michele. After his tenure at Gucci, Michele has taken on the task of guiding the maison forward, honoring Garavani’s legacy while introducing a new creative vision.
The beauty created by Valentino Garavani will continue to transcend time, captivating audiences around the world for generations to come.
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