The world of high fashion is in mourning following the death of legendary Italian designer Valentino Garavani. The jet-set couturier, universally known by his first name, passed away at his home in Rome on Monday at the age of 93, his foundation confirmed.
A Heartfelt Tribute from a Dear Friend
Oscar-winning actress Gwyneth Paltrow led the tributes, sharing a deeply personal and heartbreaking note on her Instagram. The designer was a close personal friend who dressed her for countless landmark events, including her 2018 wedding to Brad Falchuk and the 2013 Met Gala, where she wore one of his iconic pink gowns.
"I was so lucky to know and love Valentino—to know the real man, in private," Paltrow wrote. She fondly recalled the man who was "in love with beauty, his family, his muses, his friends," and who would playfully pester her to "at least wear a little mascara" when she came to dinner. "This feels like the end of an era," she concluded. "He will be deeply missed."
The Emperor of Glamour: A Lasting Legacy
Valentino Garavani, born on 11 May 1932 in Voghera, Italy, defined high glamour for nearly half a century. Founded in 1959 on Rome's Via Condotti, his fashion house became synonymous with exquisite craftsmanship, feminine silhouettes, and his unmistakable, fiery shade of 'Valentino red'.
His clientele read like a who's who of global royalty, first ladies, and Hollywood elite:
- Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, who wore his long-sleeved lace dress for her 1968 wedding to Aristotle Onassis.
- Princess Diana of Wales, a frequent wearer of his sumptuous gowns.
- Julia Roberts, who accepted her 2001 Best Actress Oscar in a vintage Valentino column dress.
- Audrey Hepburn, Elizabeth Taylor, and Queen Rania of Jordan.
"I know what women want," Valentino once famously said. "They want to be beautiful." His philosophy was clear: women should always present their best selves, a belief reflected in every meticulously crafted bow, ruffle, and embroidery.
A Jet-Set Life and Enduring Influence
Valentino lived the lavish lifestyle of his patrons, flitting between homes in New York, London, Capri, and Gstaad with his longtime partner, Giancarlo Giammetti, and their pack of pugs. His assets included a 152-foot yacht and an art collection featuring Picasso and Miró.
He retired from his design role in 2008 after selling the label for an estimated $300 million in 1998. The house of Valentino, now owned by Qatar's Mayhoola and Kering, continues under the creative direction of Alessandro Michele.
The designer's body will repose at his foundation's headquarters in Rome on Wednesday and Thursday. A funeral will be held at the Basilica Santa Maria degli Angeli e dei Martiri on Friday, bringing the fashion world together one last time to honour a true emperor of style.
