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It is a day when even the most vibrant red has dimmed. On Monday, 19th January 2026, at his beloved Roman residence, Valentino Garavani breathed his last. He was 93 years old. With his passing, we do not merely close a chapter in fashion history, but an entire era defined by absolute beauty, elegance, and a lifestyle that rarely exists today.
Valentino, often known as “L’Ultimo Imperatore” (The Last Emperor), died as he lived—surrounded by beauty and his closest circle. His journey began in Voghera, where as a young boy he dreamt of women who resembled the silver screen stars of Ziegfeld Girl. He fulfilled that dream entirely. When he opened his first salon on Rome’s Via Condotti in 1959, following his studies in Paris, he brought French savoir-faire to Italy, but infused it with a distinctly Italian soul and sensuality.
The story of Valentino, however, would be incomplete without mentioning Giancarlo Giammetti. Their fateful meeting at the Café de Paris on Via Veneto in July 1960 changed not only their lives but the world of luxury itself. It forged a partnership that spanned over 65 years. While Valentino was the creative dreamer, Giammetti was the pragmatic architect of their empire. Together, they defined what it meant to live in luxury—always impeccably groomed, perennially tanned, whether aboard the T.M. Blue One in the Mediterranean, on the slopes of Gstaad, or in their palatial homes. They were the kings of La Dolce Vita until the very last day.
John B. Fairchild of WWD dubbed him “The Chic”, and it was no exaggeration. Valentino understood women like no other. He dressed the most powerful and beautiful figures of the century—from Jackie Kennedy, for whom he designed the dress for her wedding to Onassis, to Elizabeth Taylor and modern Hollywood royalty. His name became synonymous with a specific shade of poppy red—”Rosso Valentino”. A colour symbolizing passion, life, and drama. A colour that no other designer could command with such grace.
He concluded his active career in 2007 with a spectacular three-day celebration in Rome, which remains etched in the memory of the fashion world as one of the most extravagant events in history. Even after stepping down, he remained active, primarily through the foundation he established with Giammetti, based in the newly renovated Palazzo PM23 on Piazza Mignanelli.
It is there that the public will now be able to pay their final respects. He will lie in state on Wednesday and Thursday. The funeral will take place on Friday, 23rd January, at 11:00 am at the Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli e dei Martiri.