Hollywood Legend & Devil Wears Prada Actor Valentino Garavani Dies at 93

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Legendary Italian fashion designer Valentino has died at the age of 93, reported.

Valentino Garavani, the renowned designer, died at his home in Rome, Italy, on January 19th. His foundation shared that he was with family when he passed away.

The organization announced that a viewing will be held at PM23, located at Piazza Mignarelli 23. The funeral will be on January 23th at 11 am at the Basilica Santa Maria degli Angeli e dei Martiri in Rome, Italy. While the cause of death wasn’t specified, the statement confirmed he died peacefully.

Born in Voghera, Italy on May 11, 1932, the fashion designer later known simply by his first name built a fashion empire that ultimately shared that same name.

Valentino developed a passion for fashion as a child, first learning the craft while assisting his aunt Rosa and designer Ernestina Salvadeo. He then moved to Paris to formally study fashion at the École des Beaux-Arts and the Chambre Syndicale de la Couture Parisienne.

He began his career with an apprenticeship under Jacques Fath, then joined Jean Dessès in the 1950s. Returning to Italy in 1959, he launched his own fashion house in Rome the following year, partnering with Giancarlo Giammetti, who would become both his business partner and life companion. He first presented his collections internationally in 1962 in Florence, then a leading center for Italian fashion.

Valentino quickly became a favorite among celebrities, dressing iconic actresses like Sharon Stone, Nicole Kidman, Gwyneth Paltrow, Joan Collins, Barbra Streisand, Sophia Loren, Audrey Hepburn, Elizabeth Taylor, and Monica Vitti.

Throughout the 1960s, he created many of Jackie Kennedy’s clothes, from the outfits she wore while mourning President Kennedy to her wedding dress when she married Aristotle Onassis in 1968.

Valentino retired in January 2008, and his final haute couture fashion show was held on January 23rd, 2008, at the Musée Rodin in Paris. He had sold the Valentino company in 1998 for approximately $300 million, but he remained involved with the brand until he retired.

I was so surprised to learn Valentino actually dipped his toes into the movie world! He made a quick cameo as himself in The Devil Wears Prada – I always loved spotting him in that film. But even cooler, there’s a whole documentary about his life called Valentino: The Last Emperor that first showed at the Venice Film Festival back in 2008. It’s a really fascinating look into his career and life, if you get a chance to watch it!

Valentino was a truly unique and incredibly influential figure in fashion, enjoying a remarkably long career. His death marks the end of a generation of iconic designers known for classic style.

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2026-01-19 21:17