Italian Fashion Designer Valentino Garavani Dies at 93

Valentino Garavani’s death follows his 50-year influence on haute couture among celebrities and royalty.

Fashion designer Valentino Garavani during a photo-call to present the documentary film "Valentino: The Last Emperor" in Rome, Nov. 16, 2009. Alessandra Tarantino/AP Photo

Italian fashion mogul and founder of one of the world’s most well-known haute couture brands, Valentino Garavani, died in Rome on Jan. 19. He was 93.

“Valentino Garavani passed away today at his Roman residence, surrounded by his loved ones,” his representatives posted on his Instagram page.

The designer’s death follows half a century of his influence on haute couture. After launching his design house in 1960, Garavani was a central figure in high fashion, dressing royalty and Hollywood’s biggest stars with his signature elegance, luxurious fabrics, and “Valentino Red.”

Maison Valentino was founded in Rome by Garavani and Giancarlo Giammetti. The luxury brand is led by CEO Riccardo Bellini and Creative Director Alessandro Michele. The collections include haute couture, Valentino women’s and men’s ready-to-wear, accessories, eyewear, and beauty—fragrance, and cosmetics.

Celebrity tributes poured in for the fashion mogul following the announcement of his death.

“Valentino Garavani you are loved,” Hollywood actor Anne Hathaway said in a post on X. “Rest in power king [red heart emoji].”

Hathaway shared a decades-long friendship with the designer, referring to him as a mentor and often wearing his designs for major events.

Garavani custom-designed Hathaway’s 2012 wedding dress as a personal gift, which featured ivory tulle and a pink-tinted, hand-painted floral train.

He told E! News weeks before her wedding to Adam Shulman that the star was “a good friend” and “like my daughter.”

Donatella Versace, fashion designer at Versace, also sent her thoughts.

“Today, we lost a true maestro who will forever be remembered for his art,” Versace posted on Instagram.

Italian President Giorgia Meloni thanked Garavani in a statement.

“Valentino, undisputed master of style and elegance and eternal symbol of Italian high fashion. Today Italy loses a legend, but his legacy will continue to inspire generations. Thank you for everything,” Meloni posted on X.

Italian fashion designer Valentino Garavani walks the catwalk with his models after a fashion show in Paris on Oct. 20, 1991. Remy de la Mauviniere/AP Photo

Garavani was born in the town of Voghera in Lombardy, Italy. He inherited his love of fashion from his aunt Rosa, who was a local fashion designer and encouraged him to apprentice for her and other local designers.

As a young man, he moved to Paris to complete his formal training before gaining his first professional experience as an assistant to Jean Dessès and Guy Laroche. Garavani left Paris at 27 in 1959 and returned to Italy to open his own fashion house in Rome.

Italian fashion designer Valentino Garavani, left, waves to the public and holds by the hand American actress Sharon Stone wearing the wedding gown at the end of the presentation of Valentino's 1994 Spring/Summer ready-to-wear collection presented in Paris on Oct. 13, 1993. Lionel Cironneau/AP Photo

It was during these very early years that the term “Valentino red” was coined, inspired by the velvet dress work by a woman Garavani had seen at the Barcelona opera, according to the company.

Garavani will lie in state in Rome on Wednesday and Thursday. A funeral will be held on Friday at the Basilica di Santa Maria degli Angeli e dei Martiri, in Piazza della Repubblica in Rome, according to his Instagram page.