The fashion world has lost one of its most brilliant and unique figures: Valentino Garavani, the undisputed master of Italian elegance, passed away at the age of 93 in the serenity of his Roman residence, surrounded by the love of his family.
The news was released by the Valentino Garavani Foundation and Giancarlo Giammetti, who also announced the setup of the funeral home at PM23 in Piazza Mignanelli, a symbolic place of the Maison.
With him, not only a designer disappears, but a fundamental chapter in the history of fashion, an artist who transformed the very concept of beauty, discipline, and couture.
The last emperor of fashion
Valentino has been called by many “the last emperor,” a title that has never been an exaggeration.
From the 1960s onwards, his evening dresses—opulent, impeccable, constructed like fabric sculptures—have dressed royalty, international stars, and icons of cinema and culture.
His name has become synonymous with:
• tailoring perfection,
• luxury without ostentation,
• absolute femininity,
• creative discipline,
• the famous Valentino Red, a shade that marked an era.
Valentino embodied a way of making fashion that today seems to belong to another dimension: one in which clothing was a work of art, time was an ingredient in the creative process, and couture was an exact science.
A career that defined an era
His career, lasting over 45 years, helped bring Italy to the center of the international scene.
Together with Armani, Ferré, Missoni, Krizia, and Versace, Valentino built the golden age of Italian fashion, making it a global reference.
He retired in 2008, leaving the direction of the Maison but not the collective imagination: documentaries, exhibitions, and retrospectives continue to tell his vision, his aesthetics, and his absolute dedication to beauty.
Heritage that will never fade away
His passing has generated a wave of messages from designers, celebrities, and institutions.
The Prime Minister described Valentino as an "eternal symbol of Italian haute couture," recalling how his elegance left an indelible mark on the culture of our country.
Valentino was not just a creator of garments:
he was a builder of dreams, a guardian of beauty, an ambassador of Made in Italy in the world.
A greeting from those who live and teach fashion
For those of us who work in fashion education,
the loss of Valentino Garavani is not just the passing of a great designer: it is the end of an era, and we have always felt the responsibility to pass on to the young:
• the respect for the craft,
• the care for detail,
• the creative discipline,
• the pursuit of excellence,
• the love for beauty that never goes out of style.
Valentino has demonstrated that fashion can be art, culture, identity, and memory.
And that every outfit can tell a story.
Thank you, Maestro.
Thank you for teaching the world that beauty is an act of courage.
Thank you for making Italy a beacon of elegance.
Thank you for leaving us a legacy that will continue to live in the hands, eyes, and dreams of those who create.
Elegance never dies.
It transforms.
And continues to inspire.
Goodbye, Valentino.
The last emperor, forever.
Sabina and Antonietta Zicolella, founders of Your Future Fashion Academy