Valentino Garavani, iconic Italian fashion designer, dies at 93

ROME, ITALY: Italian fashion designer Valentino Garavani, founder of the Valentino fashion house and one of the most influential figures in haute couture, has died at the age of 93, his foundation announced on Monday, January 19. He passed away at his residence in Rome, surrounded by family members.

Widely known simply as Valentino, he retired from fashion in 2008 after nearly five decades at the helm of his eponymous brand. Funeral services will take place later this week in Rome.

Career and rise in global fashion house 

Italian fashion designer Valentino Garavani died on Monday at the age of 93, his foundation said in a statement. “Valentino Garavani passed away today at his Roman residence, surrounded by his loved ones,” the foundation announced on Instagram.

Born in Voghera, northern Italy, in 1932, Valentino Garavani trained in Paris before launching his own label in Rome in 1959. His early work quickly gained attention for its refined silhouettes and bold use of colour, particularly a vivid shade of scarlet that became known worldwide as “Valentino red.” Over time, the colour became a defining feature of the brand and remains officially recognised by the Pantone Color Institute.

In 1960, Garavani met Giancarlo Giammetti, who became his long-time business partner. Together, they transformed Valentino SpA into an internationally recognized luxury fashion house. Valentino was frequently ranked alongside Giorgio Armani and Karl Lagerfeld as one of the last great designers of an era before fashion became dominated by large corporate structures. Lagerfeld died in 2019, while Armani passed away in September, 2025.

Throughout his career, Valentino dressed some of the world’s most prominent women, including Elizabeth Taylor, Audrey Hepburn, Jacqueline Kennedy, Princess Diana and Queen Paola of Belgium. His designs were a regular presence on major red carpets, particularly the Academy Awards, where actresses such as Julia Roberts, Cate Blanchett, Jennifer Lopez and Jane Fonda wore Valentino gowns during award-winning moments.

Later years, retirement and legacy 

Valentino announced his retirement in 2007 and presented his final haute couture collection in January 2008. Reflecting on his work, he said in an interview in 2007: “The first and most important thing is that I try my hardest with all my passion to make a woman look beautiful and make dresses that are flattering to her body. A woman must feel like she has a glow.”

Following his retirement, leadership of the fashion house passed through several creative directors. Alessandro Michele took over as creative director in 2024 and remains in the role. Valentino and Giammetti continued to collaborate through cultural and philanthropic projects, including the Valentino Garavani Virtual Museum and the Fondazione Valentino Garavani and Giancarlo Giammetti, established in 2016.

Valentino Garavani will lie in state on Wednesday and Thursday at PM23 in Rome. His funeral will be held on Friday, January 23, at the Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli e dei Martiri at 11 am, according to his foundation.