Today, the fashion industry is in mourning for one of its most legendary figures. Valentino Garavani, the designer who founded the house of Valentino in 1960—and who came to define the dolce vita glamour of Roman jet-set style, while also introducing Italian couture to the Paris runways—has died at the age of 93.
In a statement posted to Instagram, the Valentino Garavani and Giancarlo Giammetti Foundation wrote: “He passed away peacefully in his Roman home, surrounded by the love of his family.” The designer will lie in state at Rome’s Piazza Mignanelli, directly in front of the Valentino headquarters by the Spanish Steps, between January 21 and 22. His funeral service will be held the following day at the Basilica of Saint Mary of the Angels and Martyrs, a church designed by Michelangelo within the ruins of the ancient Baths of Diocletian—an appropriate setting for a designer widely referred to as “the last emperor” of fashion.
The news prompted a wave of tributes from across the globe, with fashion industry titans and Hollywood stars alike honoring Garavani’s powerful influence on style and culture—from the iconic gowns he designed for the likes of Jackie Kennedy, Elizabeth Taylor, and Princess Diana, to the house’s revival over the past decade under the aegis of Pierpaolo Piccioli and, more recently, Alessandro Michele.
Here, read the world’s reflections on the life and legacy of Valentino Garavani.
