Italian fashion icon Valentino Garavani passes away at 93

Valentino Garavani, the legendary Italian fashion designer whose name epitomized timeless elegance and haute couture, died at 93, his foundation confirmed Monday.

In a statement shared on social media, the foundation said Garavani died peacefully at his home in Rome, surrounded by family and loved ones. His funeral service will be held on Friday, January 23, from 11am to 6pm at the Basilica Santa Maria degli Angeli e dei Martiri, in Piazza della Repubblica 8 in Rome.

Born in 1932 in Voghera, northern Italy, Garavani trained in Paris at leading haute couture houses before returning to Italy. In 1959, he founded his own fashion house in Rome, laying the foundation for a global luxury brand.

Garavani achieved his international breakthrough with a collection of refined evening gowns in a distinctive deep scarlet shade that became famously known as "Valentino red," a color that defined his signature style.

Over the decades, Valentino emerged as one of the most influential figures in fashion. During the 1970s, he spent time in New York and moved within elite creative circles that included artist Andy Warhol and Vogue editor Diana Vreeland. By the 1990s, his designs dominated international runways and red carpets, worn by top supermodels such as Claudia Schiffer and Naomi Campbell.