Today, Italian fashion legend Valentino Garavani has passed away at age 93. We will never forget his elegant evening gowns that were favored for decades by some of the world’s most glamorous women. He «peacefully passed away today at his residence in Rome, surrounded by the love of his family,» a statement posted to Instagram said.
I am deeply grateful that I had the honor of knowing him, a truly great designer, defined by class, elegance, and timeless vision. He was one of the true giants of fashion, and he will be profoundly missed.
From founding his maison in Rome to shaping decades of haute couture, his legacy changed fashion forever.
Born in Voghera, Italy on May 11, 1932, he discovered his passion for fashion at a young age. He moved to Paris to study couture and trained in the ateliers of Jean Dessès and Guy Laroche, mastering the discipline and elegance of French haute couture before returning to Italy.
In 1959-60, he founded Maison Valentino in Rome together with Giancarlo Giammetti. Rome became the heart of the house, a place where Italian craftsmanship met timeless glamour. Valentino quickly gained international recognition after presenting his couture collection in Florence in the early 1960s, marking the beginning of his global success.
VOGUE Italia will launch a collectible cover edition to honor Valentino, launching on Feb 27, 2026.
His work became synonymous with absolute elegance, refined femininity, and meticulous craftsmanship. Over the decades, Valentino dressed some of the most iconic women in history, shaping red-carpet culture and defining an unmistakable aesthetic, forever associated with sophistication and the legendary Valentino Red.
«I think that a woman dressed in red is always magnificent.» – Valentino Garavani
In 2008, Valentino retired after a final haute couture show in Rome, closing a historic chapter while leaving behind a legacy that continues to define luxury fashion. Today, Valentino lives on as a house owned by Mayhoola, with Alessandro Michele carrying its creative vision forward.
You will be missed, Maestro, one of the true giants of fashion.
LoL, Sandra
Photos: Courtesy of Valentino and © Sandra Bauknecht
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