Valentino Garavani, Legendary Fashion Designer, Dies at 93
By Alexus Mosley
The fashion world is mourning the loss of one of its most enduring visionaries. Valentino Garavani, the legendary Italian fashion designer whose name became synonymous with timeless elegance and haute couture romance, has died at the age of 93, his foundation announced on Monday.
“Valentino Garavani passed away today at his Roman residence, surrounded by his loved ones,” the foundation shared in a statement posted to Instagram. According to the announcement, a lying in state will be held on Wednesday and Thursday, with funeral services taking place in Rome on Friday at 11 a.m., a fitting farewell in the city that shaped so much of his life and work.
Born in Voghera, Italy, Valentino Garavani established a fashion empire founded on elegance, discipline, and unapologetic glamour. From the moment he founded his namesake house in 1960, Valentino distinguished himself through impeccable craftsmanship, refined silhouettes, and an unwavering devotion to beauty as an art form. At the heart of his legacy stands “Valentino red,” a shade so iconic it became inseparable from his name, symbolizing confidence, passion, and timeless femininity.
Valentino was beyond a couturier. Noted as a guardian of old-world elegance, his vision remained constant: clothes should honor the woman wearing them, not overpower her. After stepping away from his fashion house, Valentino’s influence endured and was visible in modern couture, red carpet glamour, and the continued reverence for craftsmanship over excess.
He leaves behind a legacy stitched into the history of fashion itself. One defined by romance, restraint, and an unshakable belief in elegance.