Italian fashion legend Valentino Garavani dies aged 93 in Rome

Valentino Garavani has died in Rome aged 93, leaving an enduring legacy of elegance, craftsmanship and timeless haute couture.

Italian designer Valentino Garavani has passed away at the age of 93 in Rome, as confirmed by his foundation in an official statement shared on Instagram. The couturier died at his Roman residence, surrounded by loved ones, closing one of the most influential chapters in fashion history.

According to the foundation, a public viewing will be held at PM23, Piazza Mignanelli 23, on Wednesday 21 and Thursday 22 January, from 11:00 to 18:00. The funeral service will take place on Friday 23 January at 11:00 at the Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli e dei Martiri, in Piazza della Repubblica, Rome.

Retired since 2008, Valentino embodied a singular vision of haute couture defined by precision, refinement and a level of glamour achieved by only a handful of designers worldwide. After studying in Paris and training under Cristóbal Balenciaga, he returned to Rome to establish his own fashion house, quickly becoming synonymous with supreme elegance.

His creations dressed some of the most iconic women of the twentieth century, including Jacqueline Kennedy, Elizabeth Taylor, Audrey Hepburn and Princess Diana of Wales, cementing his status as the designer of choice for global icons and modern royalty.

Beyond the runway, his cultural impact extended into popular imagination, most memorably through his celebrated cameo in ‘The Devil Wears Prada’. His aesthetic signature lives on in the instantly recognisable Valentino red, a shade that became an enduring symbol of power, sensuality and luxury.

With the passing of Valentino Garavani, fashion loses not only a designer, but a master of couture whose work transcended trends, leaving behind a timeless vision of beauty and craftsmanship.