Rome is paying its final respects to Valentino Garavani, the Italian designer whose gowns and signature red defined Italian fashion. He died aged 93 at his Rome home on January 19, 2026.
A two-day public viewing began on Wednesday at the Fondazione Valentino Garavani e Giancarlo Giammetti in Piazza Mignanelli, just steps from the Spanish Steps.
His coffin, topped with a single red rose and surrounded by white flowers, rests in the PM23 exhibition space, flanked by close friends, family, and his two fawn-coloured pugs. His funeral will take place on Friday at the Basilica di Santa Maria degli Angeli e dei Martiri.
Hundreds queued to pay tribute to the “last emperor” of Italian fashion. Celebrities, officials, and ordinary Romans lined up to see him one last time. Alessandro Michele, Valentino’s current creative director, and Dior’s Maria Grazia Chiuri were among those attending.
Rome’s mayor, Roberto Gualtieri, called him one of Italy’s “most luminous and beloved figures,” noting his lifelong ties to the city, where he founded his house on Via Condotti in 1959 and kept his atelier even while showing collections in Paris.
Those who knew him remember more than his designs. Hairdresser Alba Armillei, who worked with him for 14 years, said, “Everything he touched became beautiful.” Alba Verga called his dresses “sculptures, works of art, but above all dreams.”
Dancer Eleonora Abbagnato recalled a feather-embellished gown for the Vienna Opera, showcasing Valentino’s signature red and timeless elegance. Michele described him as leaving “an irreplaceable heritage” and “a great example of life.”
Valentino’s career spanned nearly 50 years, built on glamour rather than trends. He became the go-to designer for royals, first ladies, and movie stars—from Jackie Kennedy Onassis to Julia Roberts and Queen Rania of Jordan.
His gowns created iconic red carpet moments, including Roberts’ black-and-white column for her 2001 Oscar win and Cate Blanchett’s butter-yellow one-shoulder in 2005.
Tributes also came from Italian leaders. President Sergio Mattarella said Valentino “looked beyond trends and conventions,” while Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni called him “the undisputed master of style and elegance, an eternal symbol of Italian high fashion.”
His passing follows the death of Giorgio Armani last September, marking another significant moment for Italy’s fashion world.
Valentino’s influence went beyond fashion. His lifelong partnership with Giancarlo Giammetti, mentorship of creative directors, and close ties with clients and friends shaped his legacy.
While speculation continues over his estate, including Château de Wideville and his art collection, the Valentino fashion house remains stable under Mayhoola and Kering, with no ownership changes expected before 2028.
Central stores have covered their windows in black, displaying his words: “I love beauty. It is not my fault.” Michele says Valentino’s presence is still felt in the next collection, set to debut in Rome on March 12.
