Somber faces filled the streets of Rome as the air itself seemed heavy with grief. Anne Hathaway, Donatella Versace, and Tom Ford gathered quietly in Rome on Friday to join mourners in bidding farewell to fashion icon Valentino Garavani.
The Daily Mail reported that the funeral was held at the Basilica of Saint Mary of the Angels and Martyrs, drawing figures from both fashion and film to honor a designer whose work shaped generations of couture.
According to a statement from the company’s official Instagram accounts, Valentino breathed his last on Monday at age 93 at his home in the Italian capital, where he was said to be “surrounded by his loved ones.”
Fashion & Film Icons Pay Their Respects
GettyHathaway was among the earliest to arrive.
GettyHer connection with the late fashion legend goes way back, when she first met Valentino while working on “The Devil Wears Prada”.
The film is deeply rooted in the fashion world that he helped shape.
Versace and Ford followed, along with longtime Vogue editor and current Global CCO for Condé Nast, Anna Wintour.
GettySee more photos from an emotional farewell fitting for an icon here:
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GettyTogether, their presence reflected decades of influence across fashion, film, and media, highlighting Valentino’s impact well beyond the runway.
A Coffin Marked by Valentino Red
GettyIn the days leading up to the emotional funeral, hundreds gathered in Rome’s Piazza della Repubblica to pay their respects as Valentino lay in state at the Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli e dei Martiri.
Crowds lined the streets as a car arrived bearing a dark wood coffin, topped with a single red rose, a quiet and powerful nod to the color forever associated with his name.
GettyThe designer first embraced the vivid shade after unveiling a poppy-red dress in his debut show in 1959.
He returned to it throughout his career, transforming the hue into a lasting signature now universally known as Valentino red.
A Life That Shaped Fashion History
GettyBorn in 1932 in Voghera, just south of Milan, Valentino Clemente Ludovico Garavani showed an early devotion to fashion.
As per a report in Esquire, at 17, he moved to Paris to study at the École des Beaux-Arts and the Chambre Syndicale de la Couture Parisienne.
After training with several couture houses throughout the 1950s, he returned to Rome and founded his own fashion house alongside partner Giancarlo Giammetti.
The label quickly earned a loyal following. Elizabeth Taylor was among his earliest high-profile supporters, as British Vogue reiterated.
Over a career spanning more than six decades, Valentino dressed a remarkable range of icons, including Princess Diana, Jacqueline Kennedy, Kim Kardashian, and Victoria Beckham.
GettyHis designs stood out for their sharp tailoring, flowing silhouettes, and lasting sophistication.
The fashion house later expanded into beauty, launching its first fragrance in 1979 and introducing a makeup line in 2021.
Valentino’s Foundation Announced His Passing in Emotional Statement
Valentino’s foundation confirmed his death in a statement released Monday.
It read: ‘The Fondazione Valentino Garavani e Giancarlo Giammetti announces the passing of its founder, Valentino Garavani, who peacefully passed away today at his residence in Tome, surrounded by his family’.
The statement also outlined funeral arrangements.
“The lying in state will be held at PM23 in Piazza Mignanelli 23 on Wednesday, January 21st, and ThursdayJanuary 22d, from 11:00 am to 6:00 pm.”
It added: ‘The funeral will take place on Friday, January 223rdat the Basilica Santa Maria degli Angeli e dei Martiri, in Piazza della Repubblica 8 in Rome, at 11 am’.
As per The Guardian, Valentino and Giammetti shared a 12-year romantic relationship that later evolved into what they described as a bond of fraternal love.
GettyTogether, they became lifelong partners in both business and devotion, shaping a legacy that continues to influence fashion long after Valentino’s final bow.
