Valentino Garavani, the iconic Italian fashion designer who dressed generations of royalty, first ladies, and Hollywood stars while building one of the world's most recognizable luxury brands, has died at the age of 93. The designer, known simply as Valentino, passed away peacefully at his Roman residence on Monday, January 19, 2026, surrounded by loved ones, according to his foundation.
Born on May 11, 1932, in Voghera, Italy, Valentino founded his eponymous fashion house in 1960 alongside his business partner Giancarlo Giammetti. Together they built an empire that would come to define Italian haute couture, introducing the world to the signature vibrant hue known as Valentino Red. The company generated 1.36 billion dollars in revenue by 2021, a testament to the enduring appeal of his elegant designs.
Valentino's client list read like a who's who of global glamour. He designed the long-sleeved lace dress that Jacqueline Kennedy wore for her 1968 wedding to Greek shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis, a creation that caused a sensation in the United States. Audrey Hepburn, Gwyneth Paltrow, Julia Roberts, Zendaya, and Queen Rania of Jordan all wore his creations, with many swearing the designer always made them look and feel their best.
The designer's philosophy centered on an unabashed love of beauty. In the 2008 documentary about his life titled The Last Emperor, Valentino declared that he loved a beautiful lady, a beautiful dog, a beautiful piece of furniture, and beauty itself, adding simply that it was not his fault. His designs reflected this sensibility, featuring crisp suits, traditional femininity, romance, and unmistakable luxury.
Valentino retired from active design in 2008 after selling his company for nearly 300 million dollars in 1998, though he continued to design for opera productions in his later years. His first ready-to-wear shop opened in Milan in 1969, and in 1970, he became the first Italian designer to open a boutique in New York, cementing his international reputation.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni paid tribute to the designer, calling him an undisputed master of style and a legend whose legacy would continue to inspire future generations. President Sergio Mattarella praised his ability to look beyond conventions, while Alessandro Michele, creative director of Maison Valentino, described him as a central figure in Italian cultural history who transformed a craft into a vision of the world.
Valentino's body will lie in repose at his foundation's headquarters in Rome on Wednesday and Thursday. The funeral will be held Friday at the Basilica Santa Maria degli Angeli e dei Martiri in Rome's Piazza della Repubblica, where fashion luminaries and admirers from around the world are expected to gather to pay their final respects to the master who defined elegance for more than half a century.