Valentino Garavani Dies at 93, Leaving Behind the Timeless Legacy of Valentino Red

Italian fashion designer Valentino Garavani, the legendary couturier behind the iconic “Valentino red,” has died at the age of 93 at his residence in Rome, according to an announcement from his foundation. The cause of death has not been disclosed. With his passing, the fashion world loses one of its last great masters from an era when haute couture was driven by artistry rather than corporate strategy.

Valentino Garavani is forever associated with Valentino red, a distinctive hue blending carmine and scarlet with a touch of orange. Inspired by an elegant elderly woman he once saw at Barcelona’s opera house, the color debuted in 1959 in a strapless cocktail dress made of draped tulle and quickly became the signature of the Valentino fashion house. Valentino himself once wrote, “A woman dressed in red is always wonderful,” a belief reflected in his practice of including at least one red dress in every collection.

Born in Voghera, near Milan, Valentino showed an early passion for fashion and studied couture in Milan and Paris before apprenticing under Jean Dessès. In 1960, he returned to Italy to open his fashion house in Rome, the same year Elizabeth Taylor wore one of his gowns to the premiere of Spartacus. His clientele soon expanded to include Hollywood icons and global celebrities such as Jackie Kennedy, Sharon Stone, Penelope Cruz, and many Oscar-winning actresses.

Valentino was celebrated for his romantic yet technically intricate designs, featuring chiffon ruffles, georgette fabrics, and the exclusive budellini technique. Alongside his lifelong partner and business collaborator Giancarlo Giammetti, he built a global luxury brand before retiring in 2008. The Valentino brand later changed hands, with Qatari fund Mayhoola acquiring it in 2012 and luxury group Kering moving toward full ownership.

Even after retirement, Valentino remained deeply involved in the arts. In 2025, he and Giammetti opened the PM23 gallery in Rome, debuting an exhibition centered on the color red. Valentino Garavani’s death marks the end of a defining chapter in Italian fashion history, but his legacy of elegance, beauty, and timeless design will endure for generations.