Valentino made royals and movie stars feel beautiful

Valentino Garavani, the jet-setting Italian designer famous for his eye-catching dresses, often in the distinctive “Valentino red” tone, which has been an indispensable part of fashion shows for almost half a century, has passed away at the age of 93.

“Valentino Garavani was not only a constant guide and inspiration to us all, but also a true source of light, creativity and vision,” the foundation founded by Valentino and his partner Giancarlo Giammetti said in a statement. He died Monday at his home in Rome, the foundation said.

Valentino has been adored by generations of royals, first ladies and movie stars, from Jackie Kennedy Onassis to Julia Roberts to Queen Rania of Jordan, who swear that the designer always makes them look and feel their best.

“I know what women want,” he once said. “They want to be beautiful.”

Although he was born in Italy and maintained his workshop in Rome, he mostly exhibited his collections in Paris.

Alessandro Michele, creative director of the Valentino fashion house, wrote on Instagram that he continues to feel Valentino’s “look” while working on the next collection.

Michele remembered Valentino as “a man who expanded the boundaries of what was possible” and a man who had “a rare sophistication, a quiet meticulousness and an boundless love for beauty.”

Another of Valentino’s successors, Pierpaolo Piccoli, placed a broken heart emoji under the death announcement. Former supermodel Cindy Crawford wrote that she was “heartbroken” and called Valentino “a true master of his craft.”

Condolence messages also came from the family of designer Giorgio Armani, who died in September, and from Donatella Versace, who published two photographs of Valentino and said, “He will forever be remembered for his art.”

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni remembered Valentino as “the indisputable master of the timeless style and elegance of Italian luxury fashion.”

Valentino has made precious few fashion mistakes throughout his career, which spanned from his early days in Rome in the 1960s to his retirement in 2008.

Its fail-safe designs have made Valentino the king of the red carpet, the go-to for stars’ award show needs.

Her sumptuous gowns have graced numerous Academy Awards, most notably in 2001, when Roberts wore a vintage black and white column to accept the best actress statue.

When Cate Blanchett won the Oscar for best supporting actress in 2004, she also wore Valentino, a butter yellow silk one-shoulder number.

Valentino also created the lace dress that Jacqueline Kennedy wore to her wedding to Greek shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis in 1968. Kennedy and Valentino were close friends for decades, and the United States First Lady once wore Valentino almost exclusively.

She was also close to Diana, Princess of Wales, who often wore her magnificent dresses.

Beyond his signature orange-tinged shade of red, Valentino’s other trademarks included bows, ruffles, lace, and embroidery; In short, feminine, flirty decorations that add beauty to the dresses.

Constantly tanned and always impeccably dressed, Valentino shared the lifestyle of jet-set moguls.

In addition to his 46-meter yacht and extensive art collection, the fashion designer also owned a 17th-century chateau near Paris.

Valentino and his longtime partner Giammetti, along with their pug flock, flitted between their homes, which included locations in New York, London, Rome, Capri and Gstaad, Switzerland. The duo regularly received A-list friends and clients, including Madonna and Gwyneth Paltrow.

“When I see someone and unfortunately they’re walking around casually, in jogging pants and no make-up… I feel very sad,” the designer told RTL television in 2007.

“For me, a woman is like a beautiful, beautiful bouquet of flowers. She should always be exciting, she should always please, she should always be perfect, she should always please her husband, her lover, everyone. Because we were born to always show ourselves at our best.”

Valentino was born on May 11, 1932, to a wealthy family in the northern Italian town of Voghera. He said it was his childhood love of cinema that set him on the fashion path.

“I was crazy about the big screen, crazy about beauty, seeing all those movie stars being sensational, dressing well, being perfect all the time,” she explained.

After studying fashion in Milan and Paris, he spent much of the 1950s working for well-known Paris-based designers Jean Desses and later Guy Laroche, before striking out on his own. He founded Valentino’s house on Rome’s Via Condotti in 1959.

Giammetti was by his side from the beginning and handled the business direction, while Valentino used his natural charm to build a client base among the world’s rich and gorgeous.

After some early financial setbacks (Valentino’s tastes were always extravagant and the company spent with abandon) the brand took off.

Early fans included Italian screen sirens Gina Lollobrigida and Sophia Loren, as well as Hollywood stars Elizabeth Taylor and Audrey Hepburn. Legendary American Vogue editor-in-chief Diana Vreeland also took the young designer under her wing.

Over the years, Valentino’s empire has expanded as the designer added ready-to-wear, menswear and accessories lines to his stable. Valentino and Giammetti sold the label to an Italian holding company in 1998 for an estimated US$300 million ($447 million). Valentino would remain in his design role for another decade.

In 2007, the couturier celebrated his 45th anniversary in fashion with a three-day celebration in Rome, complete with a grand ball at the Villa Borghese gallery.

Valentino retired in 2008 and was soon replaced by fellow Italian Alessandra Facchinetti, who replaced Tom Ford at Gucci and was sacked after two seasons.

A public viewing will be held at the Valentino Garavani and Giancarlo Giammetti Foundation on Wednesday and Thursday, and a funeral will be held at the Basilica di Santa Maria degli Angeli e dei Martiri in Rome on Friday.

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