The fashion world bid a final farewell to the legendary Italian designer Valentino Garavani, who passed away at the age of 93 on Monday. The great and good of the industry gathered in Rome to honour the man who was once dubbed the “last emperor of fashion”.
Valentino, as he was simply known, was a designer who revelled in being part of the story. Even in the week of his death, his name was splashed across headlines thanks to the Valentino wedding dress worn by Brooklyn Beckham’s wife, Nicola Peltz.
Born in 1932 to a middle-class family in Lombardy, Valentino’s passion for fashion blossomed from a young age. After training in haute couture in Paris, he launched his eponymous label in Rome in 1960 alongside his business partner and life partner, Giancarlo Giammetti.
Valentino’s designs were synonymous with timeless elegance, block colours, and the signature Valentino red – a flattering hue that the designer once said “knew what women wanted: to be beautiful.” His creations graced the red carpets of Hollywood, adorning the likes of Elizabeth Taylor, Jackie Kennedy, and Princess Diana over the decades.
“He was the last of an era,” explains renowned fashion journalist Suzy Menkes, who attended Valentino’s funeral. “This was a designer who loved being part of the story; he was very much personally involved. Everything was about the client, and they felt that he was a friend as well. That made him exceptional. That era doesn’t exist any more.”
Valentino’s enduring influence can be attributed to his unwavering dedication to timeless elegance and his ability to make his clients feel camera-ready. As Alistair O’Neill, professor of fashion at Central Saint Martins, notes, “Valentino’s clothes address that idea of faultless presentation.”
The designer’s close relationship with Giammetti was also integral to his success, with Giammetti handling the business side and allowing Valentino to focus on the creative. “He brought peace of mind to Valentino,” says O’Neill.
When Valentino retired in 2008, his protégés Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pierpaolo Piccioli were named co-creative directors, with Piccioli later becoming the sole creative director. The strong sense of family and tradition within the Valentino brand has been key to its continued success.
As the fashion world bids farewell to the “last emperor of fashion,” Valentino’s legacy of unparalleled elegance and dedication to his craft will undoubtedly continue to inspire generations of designers to come.
