Written by Naomi Pang
Edited by Ella Caverson
From Julia Roberts’ Oscar-winning black and white gown to Princess Diana’s iconic burgundy velvet dress, Valentino has earned its status as a marker of timeless elegance and sophistication. The brand’s founder, Valentino Garavani, is the mastermind behind the fashion house, launching the brand in 1959 from a small studio in Rome. Throughout his career, he built a name synonymous with glamour and exquisite craftsmanship. When news broke of his passing on January 19, 2026, the fashion world paused in collective mourning. Thousands took to social media to celebrate the designer’s legacy in the fashion world, specifically his devotion to elegance and romance in every garment.
Who was Valentino Garavani?
Valentino Garavani was born on May 11, 1932, in Voghera, Italy. From a young age, he had a passion for design, pursuing his studies at the École des Beaux-Arts and the Chambre Syndicale de la Couture. The designer returned to Italy in 1959 and opened his first Atelier in Rome, marking the birth of ‘Valentino’.
The Transition of Valentino into Global Dominance
Garavani met his brief lover, long-term business partner, and companion Giancarlo Giammetti in 1959. While Valentino was the creative force behind the brand, Giammetti managed the financial and operational aspects. Together, they transformed the Roman couture house into one of the most renowned in the world.
Valentino’s official international debut was in July 1962 at the Palazzo Pitti in Florence. The collection featured a variety of exquisitely tailored evening dresses. For many, the pieces presented a perfect balance of structure and romance. The dresses were simple in design, but by no means ordinary; clean lines, balanced proportions, and precise tailoring ensured this. Valentino’s intentionally simplistic styling established his timeless glamour, recognisable across his designs. The show was a landmark success, bringing him into international recognition.
The Valentino Red
When thinking of Valentino, the classic crimson immediately comes to mind. Valentino first noticed the emblematic colour when he was a teenager, taking inspiration from an opera-goer in Barcelona dressed in a bold, fiery red. He famously recounted in Vogue, “She was unique, isolated, fiery — the perfect heroine…I told myself that if I were ever going to be a designer, I would do lots of Red.” The red later became more than just a colour—it was confidence, passion, love, and life which the brand endorsed wholeheartedly.
The colour made its runway debut in the legendary “La Fiesta” dress from his Spring/Summer 1959 collection. The mid-length tulle garment has strapless fitted bodice and a skirt with delicate folds, creating a feeling of lightness and movement that adds layers to the opulence of Valentino’s designs. From then on, the distinctive red became a symbol of the fashion house—earning a consistent feature in every collection since its debut.
Dressing History: Valentino’s Enduring Influence
Throughout his 45-year career, Valentino’s designs became part of many cultural and political milestones; worn by royalty, politicians, and celebrities alike. Specifically, Valentino’s close partnership with Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis was one of his most long-lasting and noteworthy. After discovering Valentino in the mid-1960s, the former-first lady was captivated by his designs, ordering six dresses from him. She would go on to wear the pieces throughout her mourning period for John F. Kennedy, opting for understated looks to mirror her grief. Moreover, when she remarried Aristotle Onassis in 1968, she elected an elegant high-neck lace wedding dress from the brand’s Spring 1968 collection, showing an ongoing affection for the brand.
Countless other Hollywood stars have endorsed the brand, such as Elizabeth Taylor, Sophia Loren, Julia Roberts, Cate Blanchett, Penélope Cruz, Jennifer Lopez, Anne Hathaway, and the list goes on. Their red carpet looks always had a romantic feel, something that Garavani believed was necessary for a star to possess.
Valentino Today and the Legacy He Brings
In the recent Valentino Spring 2026 Paris Couture show, hosted just days after Garavani’s funeral, Alessandro Michele, the brand’s current creative director, paid tribute to the late designer. The theme of the collection was Old Hollywood, channeling the classic glamour seen in Hollywood, including feather fans, dramatic headpieces, opera gloves, and vintage silhouettes. It opened with a voiceover of Garavani taken from Matt Tyrnauer’s documentary The Last Emperor. In the audio, the designer reminisced on his fondness for Hollywood and how it inspired his creativity. The collection was titled Specula Mundi, or “Mirror of the World” in English and displayed in the form of a Kaiserpanorama—a circular viewing device that allows viewers to peer through small individual apertures to observe the collection. Being a precursor to films, the Kaiserpanorama was first introduced in Berlin during the 19th century to allow viewers to experience a different reality by observing scenes from distant cities. Alessandro Michele’s choice to present Valentino’s Spring 2026 collection in this form allowed viewers a more intimate and personal encounter with the collection.
Under a new creative direction, Valentino continues to innovate while maintaining Garavani’s romantic vision of craftsmanship and elegance. From Valentino’s early beginnings in Florence to the creation of the iconic Valentino Red, Garavani established a distinct style that combines romance, glamour, and impeccable craftsmanship. Valentino was not just a designer but an artistic force whose designs are a cultural symbol of sophistication and style, leaving a legacy that will persist for years to come.