Valentino Garavani, Fashion’s Red Carpet King, Dies at 93

Valentino Garavani, the Italian fashion designer whose elegant gowns and signature shade of red became synonymous with red carpet glamour for nearly five decades, has died at his home in Rome. He was 93. His foundation announced his death on social media Monday, describing him as a constant source of inspiration and creativity in the fashion world.

The designer, who was known simply by his first name throughout his career, dressed some of the most famous women in the world. From Jackie Kennedy Onassis to Julia Roberts and Queen Rania of Jordan, his creations became the uniform of choice for women who wanted to look their absolute best at the world's most important events.

"I know what women want," Valentino once said. "They want to be beautiful."

That philosophy guided his work from the early 1960s, when he started his career in Rome, until his retirement in 2008. In nearly fifty years, he became the go-to designer for the Academy Awards and other major events, creating the kind of dresses that women remembered for a lifetime.

Background

Valentino entered the fashion world at a time when Italian design was beginning to challenge Paris as the center of style. He opened his first atelier in Rome in 1960 and quickly gained attention for his understanding of what made women feel confident and beautiful. His designs were never about shock value or making a statement. Instead, they were about perfection, elegance and the kind of timeless beauty that transcends trends.

The designer's signature color, a rich red that became known as "Valentino red," became his calling card. Women who wore his gowns knew they would stand out, but in a way that felt sophisticated rather than loud. This balance between visibility and refinement made him the preferred choice for the world's most important women.

His success came at a time when fashion was becoming increasingly important to celebrity culture. As awards shows and red carpet events grew in prominence throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Valentino's designs became essential to the visual spectacle of these occasions.

Key Details

Valentino's most famous red carpet moment came in 2001, when Julia Roberts wore a vintage black and white column gown of his design to accept the Academy Award for best actress. The image became iconic, showing how his work could make a moment feel both grand and intimate at the same time.

Another notable moment came in 2004, when Cate Blanchett wore a one-shouldered butter-yellow silk Valentino gown when she won the Oscar for best supporting actress. These moments, repeated countless times over his career, cemented his reputation as the designer who understood how to dress women for their most important nights.

His Career Philosophy

What set Valentino apart from many of his contemporaries was his consistency. Throughout his nearly fifty-year career, he made remarkably few missteps. While other designers chased trends and pushed boundaries, Valentino focused on the fundamentals of good design: proportion, fabric quality, and an understanding of the female form.

He was not interested in being edgy or provocative. He was interested in being excellent. This approach meant his designs never looked dated, even years after they were first worn. A Valentino gown from the 1970s looked as beautiful decades later as it did when it was first created.

What This Means

Valentino's death marks the end of an era in fashion. He was one of the last of the great couturiers who built their reputation on understanding women and creating clothes that made them feel powerful and beautiful. In an industry that often chases novelty and shock, he represented something older and more enduring: the idea that true elegance never goes out of style.

His influence on fashion will likely be felt for generations. Designers who came after him learned from his example that longevity and consistency matter more than constant innovation. Young women who wear formal gowns today, whether by Valentino or other designers, are wearing clothes that were influenced by his philosophy and his approach.

The designer's foundation, based in Rome, will continue his legacy. His body will lie in repose at the foundation's headquarters on Wednesday and Thursday, with a funeral service scheduled for Friday at the Basilica Santa Maria degli Angeli e dei Martiri in Rome's Piazza della Repubblica.

Valentino Garavani leaves behind not just beautiful clothes, but a philosophy about fashion that emphasized elegance, proportion and respect for the women who wore his designs. In a world that often moves too quickly and changes too often, his steady, unwavering commitment to beauty stands as a reminder of what fashion can be at its very best.