Fashion icon Valentino Garavani has passed away

Valentino Garavani, legendary Italian couturier and founder of the fashion house that bears his name, has died at the age of 93. With his passing, the last name from the golden generation of 20th-century couturiers has disappeared.

Elegance and femininity

Valentino stood for glamour, elegance, femininity, and his signature color, Valentino Red. One of his most famous quotes is: “I know what women want. They want to be beautiful.” He worked for greats such as Balenciaga, Jacques Fath, and Guy Laroche and founded his own fashion house in 1960. He went on to dress some of the most famous women in the world, including Jackie Onassis, Elizabeth Taylor, and Julia Roberts.

He presented his last collection for Valentino in 2007. In 2023, he received the Outstanding Achievement Award at The Fashion Awards in London. His fashion house remains active: Mayhoola for Investments from Qatar owns the majority of the shares, while Gucci owner Kering holds a minority stake but has an agreement to acquire the remaining 70% of Valentino by 2029.

The Valentino Garavani and Giancarlo Giammetti Foundation said in a statement that he died peacefully at his home in Rome, “surrounded by the love of his family.”