Valentino Garavani, Fashion Icon and ‘International Arbiter of Taste,’ Dies at 93
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Italian fashion designer Valentino Garavani, renowned for his timeless elegance and vibrant red hues, has died at his Roman residence. He was 93 years old. His passing was announced Monday by his foundation via Instagram.
Valentino, dubbed an “international arbiter of taste” by Vogue, dressed generations of iconic women, from Audrey Hepburn and Jackie Onassis to Anna Wintour, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Zendaya. His designs graced both momentous life events and the world’s most prestigious red carpets.
A Lifelong Pursuit of Beauty
The designer’s signature aesthetic was defined by crisp suits and a distinctive “crème brûlée” complexion – a result of his dedication to tanning. Heavily influenced by the glamour of Hollywood’s silver screen stars, Valentino possessed a lifelong fascination with beauty in all its forms. “I love a beautiful lady, I love a beautiful dog, I love a beautiful piece of furniture. I love beauty, it’s not my fault,” he famously stated in the 2008 documentary, The Last Emperor.
Valentino’s work embodied romance, luxury, and an aristocratic lifestyle, embracing sophistication, elegance, and traditional femininity through his dresses. He became particularly known for trademarking a vibrant shade of red, now synonymous with the Valentino brand.
From Early Beginnings to Global Empire
Born Valentino Garavani, named after silent movie star Rudolph Valentino, the designer cultivated a taste for the finer things in life from a young age. Growing up in Voghera, Italy, he received unwavering support from his parents, who indulged his refined palate and financed his early fashion endeavors. He first learned the art of sewing from his Aunt Rosa in Lombardy. After completing high school, he pursued his passion in Paris, undertaking fashion studies and apprenticeships.
A pivotal partnership with Giancarlo Giammetti proved instrumental to Valentino’s success. The two met in 1960 at a café on Rome’s Via Condotti, where Valentino had just opened his first couture studio. They founded Valentino Company that same year, expanding to include a ready-to-wear shop in Milan in 1969.
A Dynamic Duo
Despite a romantic separation at age 30, Valentino and Giammetti remained steadfast business partners and close friends for over five decades. Giammetti, possessing a keen business acumen, complemented Valentino’s creative vision. “Valentino has a perfect vision of how a woman should dress,” Giammetti explained in a 2009 interview with Charlie Rose. “He looks for beauty. Women should be more beautiful. His work is to make women more beautiful.”
In 1998, they sold the Valentino company for nearly $300 million. The brand continued to thrive, generating $1.36 billion in revenue in 2021, according to Reuters. Even after his retirement in 2008, Valentino remained involved in the world of design, creating dresses for opera productions.
A Legacy of Style
Valentino’s influence extended beyond the elite circles of haute couture. As fashion became more accessible, his “V” monogram adorned a wide range of products, from jeans and handbags to umbrellas and even Lincoln Continentals. At the height of his career, his popularity in Rome rivaled that of the Pope. Valentino Garavani leaves behind a legacy of timeless style and a lasting impact on the world of fashion.
