L’imperatore: Valentino Garavani 1932-2026
Remembering an Icon of couture.
With the passing of Valentino Garavani, fashion bids farewell to one of its final true emperors. A couturier in the purest sense, Valentino belonged to a generation that built fashion houses not as content engines or commercial machines, but as worlds. He was, unmistakably, the last of the greats.
Born in Voghera in 1932, Valentino’s devotion to beauty was apparent early on. He trained in Paris at the École des Beaux-Arts and the Chambre Syndicale, absorbing the discipline of French couture before returning to Italy to establish his own house in Rome. From the beginning, his vision was clear: elegance without compromise, luxury without vulgarity, romance anchored by precision.
His work was instantly recognisable. The now-legendary Valentino red, vivid and emotional, became a signature so powerful it transcended trend and season. His silhouettes balanced structure and softness with extraordinary control: sculptural gowns that skimmed the body, impeccable tailoring softened by fluid movement, couture that felt both monumental and intimate. Whether in sweeping evening dresses or sharply cut suits, Valentino understood how clothing could elevate posture, presence, and self-belief.
Valentino dressed women who defined their eras. Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, whose wedding dress remains one of the most iconic garments of the twentieth century, was among his earliest and most devoted muses. Elizabeth Taylor, Sophia Loren, Claudia Cardinale, Princess Diana - women of confidence, charisma, and command. In later years, his designs continued to grace red carpets, worn by actresses and public figures who sought timelessness rather than spectacle.
Yet Valentino’s influence extended far beyond individual garments. He represented a philosophy of fashion rooted in patience, craftsmanship, and emotional intelligence. Every detail mattered: the cut of a sleeve, the fall of a hem, the exact tone of colour. In an industry increasingly shaped by speed and volume, Valentino stood firmly for restraint and refinement.
Outside the atelier, his passions revealed the same devotion to beauty. Art, architecture, gardens, collecting, travel, and above all, love for his work and the world he so carefully curated. His life was lived as intentionally as his designs, each choice guided by an instinct for harmony and pleasure.
As fashion continues to evolve at a relentless pace, Valentino Garavani’s legacy feels more vital than ever. He leaves behind not only an archive of extraordinary work, but a reminder of what fashion can be when it is led by conviction rather than noise.
We remember Valentino not simply as a designer, but as a guardian of elegance. An emperor whose reign was defined by beauty, discipline, and an enduring belief in grace.
