Valentino Garavani: The Last Emperor of Italian Fashion (1932–2026)
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By PAGE Editor
Valentino Clemente Ludovico Garavani — known simply and globally as Valentino — has died at 93 years old at his home in Rome, his foundation announced on January 19, 2026. The designer’s passing marks the end of an era in haute couture and global fashion, closing the chapter on one of the most influential figures of the 20th century.
Early Life and Education
Valentino was born on May 11, 1932, in Voghera, Italy, a small town in the Lombardy region between Milan and Turin. From a young age, he was drawn to artistic expression and fashion. After studying fashion sketching and French at Milan’s Santa Maria Institute, he moved to Paris at age 17 to immerse himself in the craft. There, he attended the École des Beaux-Arts and the prestigious Chambre Syndicale de la Couture Parisienne, laying the foundation for his future as a world-renowned designer.
During his early Paris years, Valentino apprenticed with established designers such as Jean Dessès and Guy Laroche, learning the technical precision that would come to define his own work.
Launching a Fashion Empire
In 1959, with financial support from his father and a family friend, Valentino opened his own fashion house on Via Condotti in Rome. His first collections quickly attracted attention, and in 1962 his debut couture show at the Pitti Palace in Florence helped launch his international reputation.
Valentino’s designs embodied a refined, feminine glamour that resonated with high society, film stars, and royalty. Some of his most iconic early supporters included Elizabeth Taylor, who famously wore his creations during the filming of Cleopatra, and Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, who wore Valentino to her wedding to Aristotle Onassis in 1968.
A signature aesthetic quickly emerged: meticulous craftsmanship, rich fabrics, and a palette centered on what became known as “Valentino red” — a vivid, passionate shade that transcended fashion into cultural symbolism.
Global Reach and Cultural Impact
Under Valentino’s direction, the Valentino brand grew into a global luxury powerhouse. By the 1970s and 1980s, his creations were staples on red carpets from Hollywood to international galas. Celebrities such as Julia Roberts, Cate Blanchett, and European royalty regularly turned to Valentino for unforgettable, glamorous eveningwear.
Valentino’s influence was not confined to clothing alone. Through expanding ready-to-wear lines, perfumes, and boutiques in cosmopolitan cities, he helped define modern Italian luxury on the international stage.
Personal and Professional Partnerships
A defining relationship in his life — both personal and professional — was with Giancarlo Giammetti, whom Valentino met early in his career. Giammetti handled the business side of the fashion house, allowing Valentino to focus on creative excellence. Their partnership was central to the brand’s longevity and success.
The designer retired in 2008, celebrated with a lavish three-day homage in Rome and documented in the acclaimed film Valentino: The Last Emperor. Even after stepping back from day-to-day design, Valentino remained an active presence in fashion circles and a revered icon of style.
Passing and Legacy
Valentino Garavani passed away peacefully at his residence in Rome at age 93, surrounded by loved ones. His foundation confirmed his death and announced that he would lie in state in Piazza Mignanelli on January 21–22, with a funeral to be held on January 23 at the Basilica Santa Maria degli Angeli e dei Martiri in Rome.
Across fashion capitals, tributes have poured in for a man who not only dressed the elite but helped usher in a new era of Italian design, shaping the language of modern glamour. Valentino’s creations weren’t just clothes — they were cultural touchstones that allowed women to express elegance, confidence, and beauty on their own terms.
Remembering a Legend
Valentino’s legacy lives on not only through the house that bears his name — now driven by new creative directors — but in every red-carpet gown and elegantly tailored silhouette that owes something to his vision. He helped craft not only garments but a timeless ideal of feminine beauty and sophistication.
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