The world of fashion is in mourning. Valentino Garavani, the couturier who transformed elegance into a global language and defined luxury for more than half a century, has died at the age of 93.
The legendary designer passed away peacefully at his residence in Rome, his foundation confirmed on Monday. With his death, fashion loses not just a designer, but an era—one built on beauty, discipline, and an unwavering belief that glamour should never apologize for itself.
A Peaceful Passing in Rome
According to the Valentino Garavani and Giancarlo Giammetti Foundation, Valentino died surrounded by loved ones in the city that shaped his life and career.
No official cause of death has been disclosed, though sources close to the foundation indicate it was due to natural causes. The designer had lived largely out of the public eye since his retirement, dividing his time between art, philanthropy, and preserving his legacy.
A public wake will be held on Wednesday and Thursday at Piazza Mignanelli in Rome. His funeral service is scheduled for Friday at 11:00 a.m. at the Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli e dei Martiri—an appropriately grand setting for a man who dressed royalty and ruled red carpets.
The Net Worth of a Fashion Empire
At the time of his death, Valentino Garavani’s estimated net worth ranged between $1.5 and $2 billion, according to luxury industry analysts.
While he sold the Valentino brand in 1998, the designer continued to earn substantial income through licensing agreements, investments, real estate, and assets tied to his creative legacy. His wealth included historic properties across Europe, significant art collections, and long-standing commercial rights linked to the Valentino name.
Yet for Valentino, wealth was never the headline. Beauty was.
Who Was Valentino Garavani?
Born Valentino Clemente Ludovico Garavani on May 11, 1932, in Voghera, Italy, he discovered his calling early—captivated by cinema, elegance, and the visual poetry of classic Hollywood.
After studying fashion in Milan and Paris, including training at the Chambre Syndicale de la Couture Parisienne, Valentino refined his craft under masters such as Jean Dessès and Guy Laroche before founding his own house in Rome in 1960.
His breakthrough came in 1962, when a Florence show propelled him onto the international stage. From that moment, Valentino became synonymous with immaculate tailoring, luxurious fabrics, and an aesthetic that celebrated femininity without irony.
Valentino Red and the Power of Timeless Glamour
No discussion of Valentino Garavani is complete without Valentino Red—the unmistakable shade inspired by a trip to Spain that became one of fashion’s most iconic signatures.
From Jackie Kennedy and Audrey Hepburn to Elizabeth Taylor, Sophia Loren, Princess Diana, Julia Roberts, and Gwyneth Paltrow, Valentino dressed women who shaped culture, politics, and cinema. His gowns were never about trends. They were about presence.
As former British Vogue editor Alexandra Shulman once said, Valentino “epitomised glamour and luxury” at a time when fashion dared to be unapologetically beautiful.
Retirement, Recognition, and a Lasting Legacy
Valentino officially retired from the runway in 2008, closing his career with an emotional final show that felt more like a coronation than a farewell.
In the years that followed, he was honored repeatedly, including receiving the Outstanding Achievement Award at the British Fashion Awards in 2023. His life and work were also immortalized in the acclaimed documentary Valentino: The Last Emperor.
Even in retirement, his influence never faded. In an industry increasingly driven by speed and spectacle, Valentino remained the gold standard for refinement.
The End of an Era
Valentino Garavani belonged to a rare generation of designers—alongside Giorgio Armani and Karl Lagerfeld—who shaped fashion before it became a purely corporate machine.
“I know what women want,” Valentino once said. “They want to be beautiful.”
With his passing, fashion loses one of its last true romantics. But his legacy—stitched in silk, sculpted in red, and defined by grace—will never go out of style.
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