Valentino Garavani, the designer who devoted his life to the art of making women feel extraordinary, has died in Rome at the age of 93.
In a statement shared by his foundation, the couturier passed away at his Roman residence, surrounded by loved ones. For nearly half a century, Valentino didn’t simply dress women — he created clothes that articulated confidence and grace, helping to shape the language of modern elegance.
Valentino was a master of timelessness. In an industry enamoured by reinvention, he remained steadfast in his belief that beauty did not need provocation to endure. His gowns — sculptural yet soft, opulent yet restrained — became pieces of the world’s most important moments. From Jackie Kennedy Onassis to Julia Roberts, he was the designer of choice for royals, first ladies, and screen icons alike.
From his early days in Rome in the 1960s through to his retirement in 2008, Valentino built a fashion house that prized consistency over spectacle. His signature shade — Valentino red — became shorthand for unapologetic glamour, a colour that demanded attention without ever shouting. While trends came and went, his devotion to timelessness resulted in not just designs, but a career, that spanned generations.
On the red carpet, his legacy is indelible. Julia Roberts’ vintage black-and-white Valentino column at the 2001 Academy Awards remains one of the most iconic Oscar looks of all time. Cate Blanchett’s butter-yellow, one-shouldered Valentino gown, worn when she accepted her Oscar in 2004, is another moment etched into fashion history.
His foundation described him as “a true source of light, creativity and vision,” words that feel fitting for a man who spent his life illuminating others. In Rome, his body will repose at the foundation’s headquarters on Wednesday and Thursday, with a funeral to be held on Friday at the Basilica Santa Maria degli Angeli e dei Martiri, in Piazza della Repubblica.
As we say goodbye, it’s impossible not to reflect on what Valentino gave us: not just exquisite clothes, but a permission to revel in beauty. He reminded the world that glamour is not frivolous — it is transformative. That dressing beautifully has the power to change how we see ourselves.
