The Last Emperor Bows Out: Valentino Garavani Dies at 93

New Delhi, january 20, 2026: The fashion world is in mourning following the death of Valentino Garavani, the legendary Italian couturier who defined global elegance for over half a century. Known mononymously as Valentino, the designer passed away peacefully on Monday, January 19, 2026, at his residence in Rome, surrounded by his loved ones. He was 93.

The news was confirmed by the Fondazione Valentino Garavani e Giancarlo Giammetti, which hailed the designer as a “true source of light, creativity, and vision.”

A Legacy Painted in Red

Valentino’s career was defined by a singular pursuit of beauty. He was perhaps most famous for his signature “Valentino Red”—a vibrant, dramatic hue inspired by a woman he saw at the Barcelona opera in his youth. The color became a staple of every collection, symbolizing the passion and high-glamour that became his trademark.

Over five decades, Valentino became the go-to designer for the world’s most influential women, including:

• Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis: He designed her iconic cream lace dress for her 1968 wedding to Aristotle Onassis.
• Hollywood Royalty: His gowns were red-carpet staples for stars like Elizabeth Taylor, Julia Roberts, and Cate Blanchett.
• Modern Icons: He maintained close friendships with muses such as Gwyneth Paltrow and Anne Hathaway.

The “Last Emperor” of Couture

Born in 1932 in Voghera, Italy, Valentino moved to Paris as a teenager to study fashion before returning to Rome to open his first atelier in 1959. Alongside his longtime business and life partner, Giancarlo Giammetti, he built a luxury empire that bridged the gap between old-world craftsmanship and modern branding.

Valentino was often called “The Last Emperor,” a title popularized by a 2008 documentary that chronicled his final years before retirement. He belonged to a golden era of designers—alongside Karl Lagerfeld and Giorgio Armani—who turned fashion into a global cultural phenomenon. Even after his official retirement in 2008, his influence remained pervasive, with his successor, Alessandro Michele, recently taking the helm of the house he built.

“I know what women want,” Valentino once famously remarked. “They want to be beautiful.”

Tributes and Final Farewells

Tributes have poured in from across the globe. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni described him as an “undisputed master of style and an eternal symbol of Italian high fashion.” Fellow designer Donatella Versace called him a “true maestro,” while celebrities like Gwyneth Paltrow shared heartfelt memories of the man who always insisted his friends “wear at least a little mascara” to dinner.

Funeral Arrangements: The public will be able to pay their respects as Valentino’s body lies in state at the foundation’s headquarters in Rome (Piazza Mignanelli) on Wednesday, Jan 21 and Thursday, Jan 22. A funeral service will be held on Friday, January 23, at the Basilica Santa Maria degli Angeli e dei Martiri.

Valentino is survived by his lifelong partner Giancarlo Giammetti and his beloved pack of pugs, who were constant companions throughout his jet-set life. His death marks the end of an era, but his “Valentino Red” will undoubtedly continue to grace runways for generations to come.