The global fashion industry is mourning the loss of Valentino Garavani, the Italian designer who reshaped modern couture and built one of the most recognisable luxury houses in the world. Valentino passed away at the age of 93 in Rome, marking the end of an era defined by discipline, craftsmanship and understated glamour.
Born in 1932 in Voghera, Italy, Valentino showed an early passion for fashion that took him to Paris as a teenager, where he trained at the Chambre Syndicale de la Couture Parisienne. He honed his skills under masters such as Jacques Fath, Balenciaga, Jean Dessès and Guy Laroche, learning that couture was not about spectacle, but about structure, detail and respect for the body.
He returned to Italy in 1959 to launch Valentino in Rome, and gradually built a global name synonymous with sophistication. His breakthrough came with the colour that would become legendary, “Valentino red”, a rich scarlet shade that became his signature and a symbol of strength and sensuality. The colour dressed first ladies, movie stars and royalty, long before fashion became a social-media battleground.
Valentino’s client list read like a history book of style: Elizabeth Taylor, Jackie Kennedy, Nancy Reagan, Julia Roberts, Sharon Stone, Gwyneth Paltrow, Naomi Campbell and Claudia Schiffer. Royal families trusted him for their most important moments, including Princess Madeleine of Sweden, who wore Valentino on her wedding day.
Unlike many designers who chased trends, Valentino stayed loyal to timeless silhouettes and classical beauty. His belief was simple: fashion should make women feel powerful, confident and beautiful, not exposed or uncomfortable. That philosophy earned him respect across generations.
He retired in 2008 with an emotional final show in Paris, where every model walked in red, a quiet farewell to a career that defined elegance. Even in his later years, the industry continued to honour him, most recently with the Outstanding Achievement Award at the British Fashion Awards.
Valentino will lie in state at Rome’s Piazza Mignanelli, with his funeral to be held at the Basilica of Saint Mary of the Angels and Martyrs.
Valentino Garavani leaves behind more than a fashion house, he leaves a standard of beauty, discipline and grace that will continue to shape couture for decades to come.
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