Valentino Garavani, the legendary Italian fashion designer whose name became synonymous with elegance and the color red, died on January 19, 2026, at his home in Rome. He was 93. According to a statement posted on his official Instagram page, “Valentino Garavani passed away today at his Roman residence, surrounded by his loved ones.” The news marks the end of an era for the fashion world, as tributes pour in from across the globe for a man whose work defined sophistication and timeless style.
Born on May 11, 1932, in Voghera, a small town near Milan in the Lombardy region of Italy, Valentino Clemente Ludovico Garavani was destined for a life in fashion. As reported by WWD, he was named after the silent film star Rudolph Valentino, inheriting the nickname “the Sheik” from his cinematic namesake. Even as a child, Garavani dreamed of glamour and beautiful people, saying, “Maybe I was dreaming too much of a world of glamour and beautiful people.” Those dreams would become reality as he set out to conquer the fashion capitals of Europe.
Throughout his career, Valentino remained steadfast in his vision. As he told WWD in 1965, “When a couturier has found his style direction, he should follow it and not try to change. He still has freedom of colors, fabrics and embroideries. Women today want to have a suit they can put on two years from now…nothing is easier to lose than a client who finds the things she buys go out of style rapidly.” This timeless approach won him a loyal clientele that included not only celebrities but also high society women from Paris to New York.
Valentino’s funeral arrangements reflect his stature in Italian culture. He will lie in state at the PM23 palazzo in Piazza Mignanelli on Wednesday and Thursday, with his funeral to be held Friday at the Basilica Santa Maria degli Angeli e dei Martiri in Rome. The city—and indeed the world—will pause to remember a man who once said, “As a creator, beauty is the most important. Since I was a child I loved the way a dress looks, I admired a great face, a lovely body. I enjoy the beauty in a woman, in a man, in a child, in a painting. Beautiful things are important and make life important.”
As the fashion world mourns, Valentino Garavani’s legacy lives on in every elegant silhouette, every stunning red gown, and every woman who ever felt beautiful in his designs.
