Italian designer Valentino Garavani in Paris in 2004
Representative of the “dolce vita” of the 1960s, fascinated by red, he exuded luxury in every detail, from his impeccable hairstyle to his caramel tan. His friend and rival Giorgio Armani passed away a few months after.
The Italian designer died this Monday, aged 93. Valentino Garavaniafter a career that marked fashion for almost half a century, personified “dolce vita” and left as a legacy a shade of red that bears his name.
According to the agency, which cites the Valentino Garavani Foundation and his partner, Giancarlo Giammetti, the designer died at his home in Rome, three months after his friend and rival.
“Valentino, undisputed master of style and elegance and eternal symbol of Italian haute couture. Today Italy loses a legendbut his legacy will continue to inspire generations. Thank you for everything”, the country’s prime minister, Giorgia Melonion social media.
Known simply as Valentino, he was one of the most important designers of the haute couture of its time, recalls the AFP agency.
His creations were worn by some of the most important celebrities of the international elite, from Ava Gardner, Elizabeth TaylorLana Turner, Audrey Hepburn e Nancy Reagan a Sharon Stone, Julia Roberts e Gwyneth Paltrow.
Both in gateways as in your personal life, Valentino exuded luxury every detail, from her impeccable hairstyle to her caramel tan.
Representative of the “dolce vita” of the 1960sValentino promoted Roman haute couture, whose sensual and timeless lines have attracted the most elegant women in the world for almost half a century.
Among the stylist’s clients were Princess Diana, Farah Dibawho fled Iran with one of his coats on, and the former American first lady Jackie Kennedywhich guaranteed him worldwide fame.
Valentino traveled with his five dogs on a private jetbetween his mansion in Rome, an apartment in New York, a castle near Paris, a chalet in Gstaad and a 50-meter yacht.
“We lost a true master todaywho will always be remembered for his art”, published Donatella Versace no. Now the model Cindy Crawford said she was “devastated” and that Valentino was “a real master of your craft“.
Sophia Loren recalled Valentino’s “kind soul, full of humanity”, in a statement released by Ansa. The American actress Gwyneth Paltrowin turn, highlighted on Instagram what he called the “end of an era”.
The designer was born on May 11, 1932, in the small town of Voghera, into a bourgeois family. Referring to fashion, he told Elle magazine: “I don’t like seeing men without ties, wearing sweatersor women with lots of makeup and shapeless pants. It’s a sign of bad manners and lack of self-respect.”
Valentino’s father, owner of an electrical cable company, allowed the designer to travel at the age of 17 to study at the Paris School of Fine Arts and join the Sewing Union Chamber.
The style of that time marked Valentino’s aesthetic sensibility, which defined a woman with defined waist and high heel shoes like fetishes.
In 1952, Valentino was hired by the fashion designer Jean Dessèswhich dressed rich clients and members of royalty. In 1957, he began working for Guy Laroche.
With the help of Giammetti, his partner and partner until his retirement, he opened his business in 1960, in Rome. maisonand transformed Valentino into a international brandthrough successive acquisitions.
In the 1960s, Rome has become a true “Hollywood branch“, thanks to Cinecittà studios. Anita Ekberg, Sophia Loren and Liz Taylor They wore the designer’s creations.
Valentino’s first collection in 1962 left its mark on its iconic imperial redwhich came to be called red “Valentino”. Few elements are as associated with the designer as this color, inspired, according to him, by a night at the opera, to see Carmen.
O designer’s meeting with Jackie Kennedy in 1964 was decisive. The former first lady chose a Valentino model for her second weddingwith the Greek tycoon Aristotle Onassisem 1968.
Considered the spokesperson for haute couture in his country, Valentino Garavani elevated the label “Made in Italy” to global prominence. He celebrated his 45-year career in style, in 2007, with his last fashion show, which ended in tears, and retired in January 2008.
