Milano Mourns Another Fashion Legend: Valentino Garavani Dies at 93

Valentino Garavani—couturier, Roman icon, and the man who made “Valentino red” shorthand for bright, cinematic glamour—has died at the age of 93.

Milan, mourns the loss of yet another fashion icon. Though his roots were unmistakably Roman—an elegance tempered by the city’s grandeur—Valentino Garavani helped define the modern Italian fashion system that made Milan a true capital of style. His work belonged to the same generation of designers who turned Italian fashion into a global industry: disciplined tailoring, seductive evening wear, and an instantly recognizable signature that traveled from the salons of Italy to the world’s red carpets. Rome gave him his aura, but Milan—its fashion weeks, its buyers, its press, its machinery—helped amplify that aura into an international language.

In a statement released today (Monday, January 19, 2026), the Fondazione Valentino Garavani e Giancarlo Giammetti announced that he passed away peacefully at his Roman residence, “circondato dall’affetto dei suoi cari,” surrounded by loved ones.

Public viewing in Rome at PM23

The Foundation also shared details for those who wish to pay their respects in person. A public viewing will be held at PM23, Piazza Mignanelli 23, Rome;
Wednesday, January 21, 2026 — 11:00–18:00
Thursday, January 22, 2026 — 11:00–18:00

Funeral details
The funeral service is scheduled for:
Friday, January 23, 2026 at 11:00
Basilica di Santa Maria degli Angeli e dei Martiri, Piazza della Repubblica 8, Rome

The end of an era—measured in elegance

For decades, Valentino dressed the jet set and the silver screen alike, shaping a global idea of Italian refinement that felt both disciplined and impossibly romantic. Tributes began arriving immediately from across fashion and public life, reflecting the scale of his influence—an Italian legacy that traveled far beyond Rome’s atelier walls.

Featured image /Wikimedia

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