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Valentino dies aged 93

Jan 20, 2026 Italy

Italian fashion designer Valentino Garavani has died aged 93. He became synonymous with 'Valentino red', a vibrant shade introduced at the end of the 1950s that went on to define his aesthetic

In a statement posted on Instagram, the Valentino Garavani and Giancarlo Giammetti Foundation said: “He passed away peacefully in his Roman home, surrounded by the love of his family”. Valentino will lie in state at Piazza Mignanelli from the 21^st to the 22^nd of January, and a funeral service will be held the following day at the Basilica of Saint Mary of the Angels and Martyrs.

Valentino was born in Lombardy in May 1932. From a young age, he enjoyed drawing and was interested in high-end clothing. He studied couture in Milan and Paris, subsequently working as an apprentice for the designer Jean Dessès. In 1960, he returned to Italy and established his eponymous fashion house in the heart of Rome. It was also in Rome that year that he met Giancarlo Giammetti, who would become his business and life partner.

The previous year, Valentino Garavani had been inspired by an elegant elderly woman at the opera house in Barcelona. He created a new shade, combining carmine and scarlet with a hint of orange. He introduced the colour to the fashion world with a strapless cocktail dress made of draped tulle, and it has been known as ‘Valentino red’ ever since.

“A woman dressed in red is always wonderful; she is the perfect image of a heroine”, wrote Valentino in the 2022 book Rosso (Red). He included at least one red dress in every collection, and in his final collection in 2007, all the models wore red dresses for the finale.

Valentino was best known for his refined elegance, feminine silhouettes, and couture craftsmanship, and his creations were worn by celebrities and other high-profile figures, including Elizabeth Taylor, Nancy Reagan, Sharon Stone, Julia Roberts, and Gwyneth Paltrow. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in 20th-century fashion, alongside the likes of Giorgio Armani and Karl Lagerfeld.

Image Credits: seattletimes.com

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