On January 19, 2026, Valentino Garavani passed away at the age of 93, the designer defined as "the last emperor of fashion," in the serenity of his Roman residence on the Appia Antica. With him, an extraordinary era of Italian haute couture closes, characterized by timeless elegance, refined luxury, and that iconic red that conquered the world.
The Beginnings: From Voghera to the Conquest of Paris
Valentino Clemente Ludovico Garavani was born in Voghera, in the province of Pavia, on May 11, 1932. His passion for fashion was supported by his parents, Mauro Garavani and Teresa de Biaggi, who encouraged him to study fashion and the French language.
At only 17, he left for Paris, where he trained in the ateliers of Jean Dessès and Guy Laroche. These years of apprenticeship in the fashion capital were fundamental in developing the couture vision that would make him famous worldwide.
The Founding of Maison Valentino and the Meeting with Giancarlo Giammetti
In 1957, maison Valentino was founded, and in 1959, the first atelier opened on via Condotti in Rome. The early years were difficult: the initial partners withdrew after an initial investment.
The turning point came in 1960 with the entry of his partner Giancarlo Giammetti into the company, an architecture student whom Valentino had met in a café in the capital. This meeting marked the beginning of a professional and personal partnership that lasted a lifetime: while Valentino handled the creativity, Giammetti managed the financial and managerial aspects of the maison.
The Triumph at Pitti 1962: Rome on the Global Fashion Map
In 1962, Valentino closed the Pitti Immagine edition with a Haute Couture show that placed Rome and Italy on the fashion map forever. Although he walked in the last available slot, when buyers had usually already departed, word of the young prodigy spread rapidly through the industry.
That moment marked Valentino's definitive affirmation as an international-level couturier and consolidated Rome as a capital of Italian fashion alongside Milan.
Valentino Red: A Color That Became Legend
Valentino's most iconic innovation was undoubtedly his red. A theatrical and warm color that became the maison's signature, defined by Valentino himself as the perfect image to represent his heroines.
That particular shade of red, a blend of carmine, purple, and cadmium, became so distinctive that it was universally recognized as "Valentino red." When a color bears your name, you have truly achieved immortality in fashion.
The Women of Valentino: A Jet Set of Legendary Icons
Throughout his long career, Valentino worked with many women of the international jet set, from his long-standing relationship with Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis, which began in 1964, to Elizabeth Taylor and Sharon Stone.
Jackie Kennedy chose a white Valentino gown for her wedding to Onassis. Julia Roberts wore vintage Valentino at the 2001 Oscars, creating a moment that entered fashion history. A total of eight actresses have received an Oscar dressed in his creations.
Among his most loyal clients were also Audrey Hepburn, Sophia Loren, Rania of Jordan, and countless aristocrats and first ladies from around the world.
The Valentino Style: Uncompromising Elegance
Valentino's style was characterized by controlled opulence and absolute refinement. His dresses were synonymous with:
- Impeccable lines and perfect proportions
- Skilled use of precious fabrics such as velvet, silk, and lace
- Maniacal attention to detail and finishing
- A perfect balance between classicism and modernity
- Sophisticated glamour that is never excessive
Grand Events: 45 Years of Career Celebrated in Rome
In 2007, Valentino celebrated his 45 years of career with three days of lavish festivities in Rome, including an archival dress retrospective at the Ara Pacis, a haute couture show at the Santo Spirito in Sassia complex, and a gala among the columns of the Temple of Venus with the Colosseum in the background.
That year also marked his retirement from the scene as creative director of the maison, closing an unrepeatable era of Italian haute couture.
Changes in Ownership and the Brand's Legacy
The Valentino brand was sold in 1998 to the German house Hdp, taken over in 2002 by the Marzotto Group, passed to the Permira fund, and in 2007 to the wife of the Emir of Qatar. In 2023, the Kering group acquired 30% of the Valentino Group's capital for 1.7 billion euros.
After Valentino's retirement, the creative direction passed first to Alessandra Facchinetti, then to the duo Pierpaolo Piccioli and Maria Grazia Chiuri. From 2016 to 2024, Piccioli led the maison alone, before making way for Alessandro Michele, who is currently at the creative helm of the brand.
The Valentino Garavani and Giancarlo Giammetti Foundation
In February 2025, Valentino and Giancarlo Giammetti opened the Garavani Giammetti Foundation in Piazza Mignanelli, Rome, with the aim of hosting art and fashion exhibitions and supporting the training of young designers.
The latest exhibition, inaugurated on January 18, 2026, was "Venus – Valentino Garavani through the eyes of Joana Vasconcelos," just one day before his passing.
The Final Farewell: Lying in State and Funeral in Rome
The lying in state will be held on Wednesday 21 and Thursday 22 January, from 11:00 to 18:00 in Piazza Mignanelli, the historic headquarters of the maison, while the funeral will take place on Friday 23 January at 11:00 in the Basilica di Santa Maria degli Angeli e dei Martiri.
Rome, the city Valentino loved deeply and which he had chosen as his home, will welcome him for his final farewell in the same square where it all began in the Sixties.
Valentino Garavani: An Immortal Legacy
With the passing of Valentino Garavani, fashion loses not only a legendary designer, but the last great Italian couturier of his generation. His legacy goes far beyond the garments he created: he defined an idea of elegance, brought Italian fashion to the highest international levels, and proved that beauty, luxury, and creativity can coexist in perfect balance.
Valentino red will continue to live as an eternal testimony to his genius, reminding us that true elegance is timeless and that the art of couture, in the hands of an absolute master, can truly achieve immortality.
Farewell Maestro, the last emperor of an unrepeatable era.
