Designer Valentino, one of the most important fashion figures in the world, passed away today in Rome at the age of 94. Making the announcement was the Valentino Garavani and Giancarlo Giammetti Foundation, which writes, “He passed away in the serenity of his Roman residence, surrounded by the affection of his loved ones.” Valentino, creator of the eponymous brand, embodied more than any other the idea of elegance, luxury and refinement of Made in Italy in the world. His figure spanned more than 60 years of international fashion history, imposing an unmistakable style that has become a symbol of timeless beauty.
Valentino Ludovico Clemente Garavani, known universally as Valentino, was born in Voghera on May 11, 1932, the second son of Mauro Garavani and Teresa de Biaggi, after his older sister Wanda, and manifested a marked inclination for drawing and tailoring from his adolescence. Crucial was his meeting with Voghera designer Ernestina Salvadeo, who encouraged his talent. After attending a figurine school in Milan, she studied French at the Berlitz School and undertook numerous trips abroad, staying for a long time in Paris. There he trained professionally at the École de la Chambre Syndicale de la Couture, the temple of French haute couture. In the 1950s, after distinguishing himself in a major competition, Valentino entered Jean Dessès’s maison as a collaborator and later Guy Laroche’s atelier, absorbing the discipline, rigor and elegance of Parisian couture. Back in Italy, he worked in Rome as a pupil of Emilio Schuberth and then at the atelier of Vincenzo Ferdinandi. In 1957 he founded his own fashion house, Valentino, together with some partners, including his father. However, high costs and a pronounced taste for luxury led to a financial crisis that threatened to decree his bankruptcy.
The turning point came with a meeting with Giancarlo Giammetti, an architecture student and life partner, who joined the company, taking over financial and organizational management, leaving Valentino full creative freedom. In 1959 the designer opened his atelier on Via dei Condotti in Rome, and in 1960 the collaboration with Giammetti officially began, destined to mark the history of the brand.
International success exploded in 1962, when Valentino presented his first collection at Pitti Moda in Florence-a triumph that earned him ultimate consecration. The French edition of Vogue devoted two pages to him, an unmistakable sign of his entry into the elite of world fashion. In 1967 he received the prestigious Neiman Marcus Award in Dallas, considered the Oscar of fashion. That same year he designed uniforms for TWA flight attendants and launched the first Valentino Uomo collection. In 1968 he adopted the famous “V” as his label, destined to become a global icon, and designed the celebrated wedding dress for Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy at her wedding to Aristotle Onassis. From that time on, the Valentino brand embarked on a decisive internationalization strategy, opening ateliers and boutiques in fashion capitals-Paris, New York, Tokyo, Geneva, Lausanne-and launching major industrial collaborations. In the 1970s and 1980s the brand expanded further with dedicated lines, accessories, perfumes and ready-to-wear.
Valentino dressed the world’s most celebrated women, becoming synonymous with high elegance. His style, classic and sophisticated, stood out for its ability to enhance the body without overpowering it, combining formal rigor with touches of bold fantasy. The absolute emblem of his aesthetic was the Valentino Red, a particular intense and luminous shade, inspired by the colors seen by the designer during a vacation in Spain, which has become one of the most recognizable chromatic signs of contemporary fashion.
Throughout his career Valentino received numerous awards: he was appointed Grand Officer of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic in 1985, Knight of the Grand Cross in 1986, Knight of Labor in 1996 and, in 2006, awarded the French Legion of Honor. At the same time he also became involved in social work: in 1990, together with Giammetti, he founded the L.I.F.E. association, dedicated to the fight against AIDS.
The Valentino brand was sold in 1998 to the German company HDP, and in 2002 it passed to the Marzotto Group. In July 2007 the designer celebrated the fashion house’s 45th anniversary in Rome with a spectacular event at the Temple of Venus in the Roman Forum. A few months later he announced his retirement from fashion. His farewell was chronicled in the documentary Valentino: The Last Emperor, which followed the last two years of his business.
Openly homosexual, Valentino lived a long and intense relationship with Giancarlo Giammetti; even after the sentimental separation, the two remained bound by a deep human and professional partnership. He later had a relationship with former model Bruce Hoeksema. A devout Catholic, Valentino repeatedly declared his faith and the importance of prayer in his daily life.
With Valentino’s passing, a key chapter in fashion history closes: that of a man who turned elegance into a universal language and made his name eternally synonymous with style, grace and beauty.
“Valentino Garavani,” writes the Valentino Garavani and Giancarlo Giammetti Foundation in a note, “was not only a guide and inspiration for all of us, but an authentic source of light, creativity and vision. His extraordinary example shapes the way we think, create and work, and will continue to guide us every day. With deep gratitude and a sense of responsibility, we pledge to honor his legacy by carrying on his vision with passion, dedication, and a firm commitment to beauty and the future.”
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| Farewell to Valentino, the designer who imposed Italian elegance in the world |
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