By Stefano Ghezzi, Rome / 22 January 2026— Valentino Garavani, the legendary Italian fashion designer who defined modern elegance and haute couture, has died at the age of 93. His death was announced by the Valentino Garavani Foundation, which said he passed away peacefully at his home in Rome, surrounded by loved ones.
Born in 1932 in Voghera, Valentino trained in Paris before founding the Valentino fashion house in Rome in 1957. Alongside longtime partner Giancarlo Giammetti, he built one of the world’s most influential luxury brands, famed for its timeless glamour and the signature “Valentino red.” Over his career, he dressed global icons including Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis and Elizabeth Taylor.
Valentino retired from creative leadership in 2007 but remained an enduring symbol of Italian style. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni led tributes, calling him “an eternal symbol of Italian haute couture.” Italy now mourns a designer whose legacy will continue to inspire generations.
