Italy, Jan 20 (.) Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has expressed deep sorrow over the death of legendary fashion designer Valentino Garavani
In a tribute posted on X, Meloni described Garavani as an enduring icon of Italian style.
“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,” she wrote.
Valentino Garavani passed away on Monday at the age of 93. The news was confirmed by his foundation, Fondazione Valentino Garavani e Giancarlo Giammetti, which announced that the designer died at his residence in Rome, surrounded by his loved ones.
The foundation also shared details of his funeral arrangements. The lying in state will take place at PM23, Piazza Mignanelli 23, on Wednesday, January 21, and Thursday, January 22, from 11:00 am to 6:00 pm. The funeral service will be held on Friday, January 23, at 11:00 a.m. at the Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli e dei Martiri in Piazza della Repubblica, Rome.
According to Variety, Garavani founded his fashion house in Rome in 1960 and quickly gained international recognition for his signature red gowns, a shade that became famously known as “Valentino red.”
His rise to global prominence was cemented in 1964 when former U.S. First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy began wearing his designs, ordering six black-and-white couture dresses following the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.
Garavani later designed her wedding gown for her marriage to Aristotle Onassis, a high-necked lace dress with an above-the-knee hem that helped establish both Kennedy and Valentino as enduring style icons.
Beyond fashion, Garavani maintained close ties to cinema, dressing numerous film stars and making a cameo appearance as himself in the 2006 hit The Devil Wears Prada, alongside Anne Hathaway and Meryl Streep.
In 2008, his life and career were chronicled in the feature-length documentary Valentino: The Last Emperor, which premiered at the Venice Film Festival.
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