Haute couture loses a legend: Fashion icon Valentino Garavani dies at 93

He died at his residence in Rome, surrounded by family and loved ones.

“Valentino Garavani passed away today at his Roman residence, surrounded by his loved ones,” the foundation said in a post on Instagram.

The funeral will be held on Friday, January 23, at 11 am (1000 GMT) at the Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli e dei Martiri in Rome’s Piazza della Repubblica.

Born in 1932 in Voghera, northern Italy, Valentino—known globally by his first name—began his journey in fashion with formal training in Paris, where he worked in some of the most prestigious haute couture ateliers.

He later returned to Italy and founded his own fashion house in Rome in 1959.

Valentino rose to early prominence with his elegant red gowns, crafted in a distinctive deep scarlet hue that became synonymous with his brand and earned the name “Valentino red” in the fashion world.

Over the decades, his influence only grew. In the 1970s, he spent considerable time in New York, moving within elite creative circles that included artist Andy Warhol and legendary Vogue editor Diana Vreeland.

By the 1990s, his designs were embraced by top supermodels of the era, such as Claudia Schiffer and Naomi Campbell.

Valentino’s death marks the end of an era in global haute couture, leaving behind a legacy defined by timeless elegance, craftsmanship, and enduring influence on fashion worldwide.