Fondazione Valentino Garavani e Giancarlo Giammetti announced that Valentino Garavani, 93, died on January 19, 2026. The foundation’s Instagram post stated he was in his home in Rome, surrounded by his loved ones.
Born in Voghera, Italy, in 1932, he trained in Paris before returning to Rome to establish his namesake house in 1960. Since the outset, he had an unwavering vision and harboured an undying devotion to couture-level craftsmanship. Think otherworldly silhouettes and an unquestioning faith in beauty as power. While fashion trends came and went, Garavani remained committed to the pursuit of elegance from sunrise to sunset. Here's looking at some distinctive aspects of his mammoth legacy, which has and continues to inspire generations of dreamers and romantics.
The Valentino Red
In 1962, Valentino presented his first official runway collection in Florence. He became synonymous with a particular shade of red, now known simply as Valentino Red, and with evening wear that balanced drama with restraint. There are, perhaps, few more iconic looks than a red Valentino gown. Inspired as a child by both the costumes of George Bizet’s opera, “Carmen,” as well as the prominent hue of the guests he sat beside, Valentino Garavani was instantly spellbound by the rich hue. The designer had included a red dress in each of his collections since his debut in 1959. He took his final bow in January 2008 with a finale of models dressed all in red for the spring 2008 Haute Couture show. In 2008, he retired from the house he founded and nourished , leaving behind not only an archive of extraordinary work but a savoir-faire steeped in exactitude, romance, and precision.
Jackie O's Sensational Wedding Look
Valentino's partner, Giammetti, spoke at length about his long career with Garavani with The Business of Fashion in May 2025. The co-founder said Garavani approached him and insisted they only speak French with each other. The designer was broke at the time and had to file for Chapter 11. The new business partners started over from there without investors. Giammetti was asked when he realised Valentino "made it."
“Jackie Kennedy was already in ‘68 [started] to dress Valentino,” Giammetti said. “I even [saw] one dress on a friend of [hers]. So, the collection flew to New York to be presented to the ex-First Lady because [John F. Kennedy] died just one year earlier.” He said Kennedy’s first order was all-black or black-and-white. “And those are the moments in which I start to understand a little bit that we made it.” In 1964, Jacqueline Kennedy became a fan of Valentino and bought six black-and-white haute couture dresses that she wore during her high-profile year of mourning for President John F. Kennedy, who had been assassinated the previous year. On October 20, 1968, she wed Aristotle “Ari” Onassis, the Greek shipping tycoon, in a cream, knee-length dress with a pleated skirt, paired with a chiffon and lace overlay from the house's "Sfilata Bianca" haute couture collection. Instead of a veil, she topped her signature bouffant with a bow.
Historical Looks with Supermodels
Garavani's figure-flattering, nimble red dresses became a rage the world over, seen on the likes of supermodels such as Naomi Campbell, Gisele Bündchen, and Christy Turlington in the 90s, during his runway shows, and in several campaigns. One of the stunning pieces seen on 90s supermodel Linda Evangelista was recently worn by Zendaya on the red carpet for the premiere of Euphoria season two. However, the sensational monochromatic number first made an appearance three decades before when redheaded Linda walked the Valentino SS92 show in Paris. Another noteworthy look was of Christy Turlington in the Valentino Spring Summer 1993 show. When Naomi Campbell walked for Valentino’s AW 1995-1996 prêt à porter collection, her fitted black dress was already rather revealing with diaphanous sequin embellished panels along each side, exposing the supermodel’s naked body underneath. The confident and sassy supermodel closed the show with this daring look for that time, with onlookers gagging.
Dressing the Hollywood Glamazons
At the 1996 Oscars, Catwoman legend and Bond girl Halle Berry was a vision in a slip dress from Valentino in soft lilac silk cut with lilac satin on the bodice and lilac chiffon around her neck. The straps were adorned with dainty floral embellishments that added to the cute, uber-90s girly allure. And who could forget Julia Roberts' Valentino look at the Academy Awards, 2001? The actress was reportedly sent multiple looks from the top designers of the era, but was unimpressed. Finally, she saw this svelte black number with a tulle train and went for it. Years later, it was still being debated and dissected, with fashion world whisperers ultimately voting it as the third most iconic red carpet look of all time.
