The world of fashion has lost one of its most illustrious and enduring figures. Valentino Garavani, the Italian designer whose name became a byword for timeless glamour, romantic elegance, and a specific, vibrant shade of red, has passed away peacefully at his home in Rome. He was 93 years old.
A Life Dedicated to Elegance and Perfection
Born in 1932 in Voghera, northern Italy, Valentino Clemente Ludovico Garavani seemed destined for a creative life. He moved to Paris at just 17, training at the prestigious Ecole des Beaux-Arts and the Chambre Syndicale, mastering the rigorous craft of French haute couture. Returning to Rome in the late 1950s, he founded the House of Valentino in 1960 with his lifelong business and romantic partner, Giancarlo Giammetti.
His signature style was a potent synthesis: Italian warmth and sensuality fused with impeccable French construction and precision. In an industry chasing fleeting trends, Valentino remained steadfast in his vision of refined femininity. "I know what women want. They want to be beautiful," he famously said, a philosophy that guided his six-decade career.
Dressing the World's Most Iconic Women
Valentino's rise paralleled the golden age of celebrity, and his clientele read like a who's who of 20th-century icons. He dressed queens, movie stars, socialites, and first ladies, shaping a version of glamour that many believe has never been surpassed.
Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis became a pivotal client, purchasing six couture dresses from him in 1964 and wearing them during her period of mourning for President John F. Kennedy. She later chose a Valentino lace dress for her 1968 wedding to Aristotle Onassis.
His designs were also beloved by Audrey Hepburn, Elizabeth Taylor, and Sophia Loren. Elizabeth Taylor's white feather-trimmed Valentino gown at the 1961 Spartacus premiere created such a sensation that she returned to him repeatedly, knowing his creations would guarantee headlines.
This understanding of the theatre of fashion made Valentino a red-carpet staple. Julia Roberts's vintage black and white Valentino gown at the 2001 Oscars remains one of the most memorable looks in the ceremony's history. Countless others, from Cate Blanchett to Jennifer Lopez, have trusted his mastery on Hollywood's biggest night.
He formed deep friendships with many clients, most notably Princess Diana, who frequently wore his designs and found sanctuary on his private yacht in the 1990s. Actress Anne Hathaway also became a close friend after his cameo in *The Devil Wears Prada*, later asking him to design her wedding dress.
The Legacy of 'Valentino Red' and a Lavish Life
Perhaps his most famous contribution to fashion is 'Valentino red' – a vivid, sophisticated hue he spent his career perfecting. It became his calling card, the name of a fragrance, and a constant on his runways. His final show in 2008 at Paris's Musee Rodin featured a breathtaking finale where every model wore an identical red dress, bathing the room in his signature colour.
Valentino and Giammetti were also known for their lavish, jet-set lifestyle, documented in the 2008 film *Valentino: The Last Emperor*. They enjoyed villas, yachts, and decadent entertaining, living a life that matched the opulence of his designs. British milliner Philip Treacy noted, "He's the only designer who lived the life that people think designers should live."
Valentino retired in 2008 after a 45-year reign. The house's creative direction later passed to designers including Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pierpaolo Piccioli. The world of fashion is undoubtedly a dimmer, and less elegantly dressed, place without him. His legacy of unwavering vision, romantic elegance, and that unforgettable red endures.
