Valentino Garavani has died in Rome at 93. I can confirm his passing on Monday, January 19, 2026. The man who painted the red carpet in his own shade of red has taken his final bow. Rome is preparing a public farewell for a designer who defined modern glamour and gave eveningwear its heartbeat.
The final bow in Rome
Valentino’s house is opening its doors for a last salute. His body will lie in state on January 21 and 22 at Piazza Mignanelli 23, the heart of his world. The funeral will take place on January 23 at Santa Maria degli Angeli e dei Martiri. Expect a sea of scarlet, satin, and tears. The city understands what his name means. So do the ateliers he built, stitch by stitch.
Public farewell in Rome, lying in state January 21 to 22 at Piazza Mignanelli 23. Funeral January 23 at Santa Maria degli Angeli e dei Martiri.
Valentino was born in Voghera on May 11, 1932. He trained in Paris, then launched his Rome couture house in 1959 with Giancarlo Giammetti. From the start, he chose beauty without apology. He pursued a perfect line, a sharp shoulder, and a sweeping hem. He taught the world how to dress for a moment that matters.
The look he gave the world
He made a color a signature. Valentino red, bright and deep at once, became a promise of presence. He wrapped women in bows, lace, and silk that moved like music. Embroidery caught the light. Capes turned rooms into stages. And he knew how to cut a column so it floated, not clung.
- Valentino red, a vivid scarlet chosen to flatter every skin tone
- The bow, scaled from delicate knot to sculpted statement
- The cape, from opera sweep to sharp shoulder topper
- Lace and tulle, backed with skill so it never looks fragile
Jackie Kennedy Onassis wore his couture in life’s public chapters. Sophia Loren glowed in it. Princess Diana and Julia Roberts did too. Those images still guide red carpet styling today. Hair stays soft and brushed back. Makeup is clean, with one strong focal point. Jewelry supports, it does not shout. This is Valentino’s playbook, and it still works.
Find your red by testing warmth. If your skin loves gold jewelry, try an orange-leaning scarlet. If silver looks best, choose a blue-based red.
What his passing means for fashion now
The house he built is strong and global. It is majority owned by Mayhoola, with Kering holding a 30 percent stake. That backing gives the ateliers time and protection, the two things couture needs most. Alessandro Michele now leads the creative direction. His romantic eye suits Valentino’s language of devotion, craft, and drama. Expect him to answer this moment with a collection that honors line, handwork, and the human touch.
The archive is a living teacher. Capes, cut on the half circle, show how to move fabric without weight. The bow, placed at the spine, creates posture. Beadwork, set low at the hem, changes the gait. These lessons will shape the next era. Couture is not nostalgia. It is technique, carried forward.
Awards season will feel this loss at once. Stylists will pull vintage Valentino, not as costume, but as respect. Modern gowns will echo the codes, a red cuff here, a flute sleeve there. Beauty will follow the same path. One clear message on the face. Nothing extra.
Beauty and style, the Valentino way
To channel his vision now, keep lines pure. Choose a single hero, a lipstick, a bow heel, a capelet. Let skin look alive and polished, not masked. A satin finish foundation reads luxe under flash. Add soft contour at the temples, and a warm highlight at the cheekbone. Line the eye very close to the lashes. Curl them. Stop before it feels heavy.
If you wear red, anchor it with texture. Matte crepe or double-faced satin gives structure. Balance volume. A full skirt needs a fitted torso. A cape wants a clean column under it. Shoes should be elegant and quiet. Nails look right in classic red, sheer nude, or deep wine.
How to keep lace and embellishment looking modern
Pair ornate fabric with simple hair. A low chignon or sleek blowout keeps focus. Skip extra sparkle near the face when beading is strong. Carry a small clutch with clean edges. That is enough.
The life that shaped a legend
Valentino’s rise was not an accident. Paris trained his eye. Rome trained his taste. He launched in 1959 and never loosened his grip on craft. He retired in 2007, a planned exit at the height of respect. The house passed through Alessandra Facchinetti, then Maria Grazia Chiuri, then Pierpaolo Piccioli. Each added a chapter, but the story stayed clear. Romance. Precision. Joy.
He dressed icons, but he also dressed moments. Brides, premieres, state dinners, final acts. He believed beauty matters, even when the world is loud. Especially then.
Conclusion
Valentino Garavani is gone, but his rules stand. Color with courage. Craft with care. Edit with love. Rome will say goodbye this week, in public, in gratitude. The ateliers will go back to work. The red carpet will keep its promise. And the light on a perfect gown will still look like hope.
