Valentino Garavani, the jet-set Italian designer whose flashy dresses (often in his trademark red) were a staple of fashion shows for nearly half a century, has died at his home in Rome, his foundation announced Monday.
Valentino, who was usually known only by his first name, was 93 years old.
The founder of his eponymous brand, Valentino rose to the heights of haute couture, built a business empire, and introduced a new color to the fashion world: the so-called Valentino Red.
“Valentino Garavani passed away today in his villa in Rome, surrounded by his loved ones,” the foundation said in a statement. said on Instagram.
The morgue will take place on Wednesday and Thursday, and the funeral will be held in Rome on Friday morning.
Valentino has been loved by generations of royals, first ladies and movie stars, from Jackie Kennedy Onassis to Julia Roberts to Queen Rania of Jordan, with designers vowing to always look and feel their best.
“I know what women want,” Valentino once said. “They want to be beautiful.”
Never one for edgy style or statement clothing, Valentino made few fashion mistakes throughout his nearly half-century career, from his early days in Rome in the 1960s until his retirement in 2008.
His fail-safe designs have made Valentino the king of the red carpet and the go-to for big-name stars for their award show needs.
His gorgeous dresses have adorned countless Academy Awards, most notably in 2001, when Roberts won the Best Actress award wearing a vintage black and white column dress. Cate Blanchett also wore a butter yellow silk one-shoulder number, Valentino, when she won the Best Supporting Actress Oscar in 2004.
Valentino also designed the long-sleeved lace dress that Jacqueline Kennedy wore to her wedding to Greek shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis in 1968. Kennedy and Valentino have been close friends for decades, and at one point Kennedy, the first lady of the United States, wore Valentino almost exclusively.
He was also close to Princess Diana, and often wore extravagant dresses.
Besides his signature orange-red hue, Valentino’s trademarks included ribbons, ruffles, lace, and embroidery. In other words, feminine and flirty embellishments added to the beauty of the dress and the woman wearing it.
Always tanned and impeccably dressed, Valentino shared the lifestyle of a jet-setting patron. In addition to his 46-meter yacht and art collection that included works by Picasso and Miró, the couturier owned a 17th-century chateau near Paris with a garden said to boast more than a million roses.
Valentino and his longtime partner, Giancarlo Giammetti, have taken their flock of pugs around New York, London, Rome, Capri and their home in Gstaad, Switzerland. The two regularly hosted A-list friends and patrons, including Madonna and Gwyneth Paltrow.
“When I meet someone and unfortunately she’s running around relaxed in jogging pants without any make-up…I feel very bad,” the designer said in a 2007 interview with RTL TV.
“For me, a woman is like a beautiful, beautiful bouquet of flowers. She must always be sensational… She must always be perfect, always please her husband, her lover and everyone, because we are born to always show our best selves.”
the beginning of the movie
Valentino was born on May 11, 1932 in the northern Italian town of Voghera into a wealthy family. He said that his love of movies as a child led him to pursue a career in fashion.
“I was obsessed with the silver screen, and I was obsessed with beauty. I loved seeing movie stars sensational, well-dressed, always perfect,” he explained in a 2007 television interview.
After studying fashion in Milan and Paris, he spent much of the 1950s working for the prominent Paris-based designer Jean Deces, and later for Guy Laroche before striking out on his own. He founded the House of Valentino in 1959 in Via Condotti in Rome.
From the beginning, Giametti was by his side, handling the business side of things, and Valentino used his natural charm to build a client base among the world’s rich and famous.
After some early financial setbacks, Valentino’s tastes were always luxurious and the company spent lavishly, the brand took off.
Early fans included Italian film actors Gina Lollobrigida and Sophia Loren, and Hollywood stars Elizabeth Taylor and Audrey Hepburn. Legendary American Vogue editor-in-chief Diana Vreeland also took the young designer under her wing.
Over the years, Valentino’s empire expanded as the designer added lines of ready-to-wear, men’s clothing, and accessories to his stable. Valentino and Giametti sold the brand to an Italian holding company in 1998 for an estimated $300 million. Valentino would continue in the design role for the next ten years.
In 2007, the couturier celebrated his 45th anniversary in fashion with a grand three-day celebration in Rome, culminating with a grand ball at the Villa Borghese Gallery.
Valentino retired in 2008.