On January 19th, we honor the life and legacy of legendary fashion designer Valentino. Renowned for his exquisite craftsmanship and unmistakable sense of luxury, his work defined elegance for generations. We celebrate his resilience, creative vision, and the enduring impact he leaves on the world of fashion.

Valentino Garavani: Defining Timeless Fashion and Luxury

Valentino Clemente Ludovico Garavani was born in 1932 in Voghera, Italy. From a young age, he was drawn to beauty, cinema, and couture. Classic Hollywood films and European high society inspired him, and he soon realized that fashion was his true passion. At 17, he moved to Paris to study at the École des Beaux-Arts and later at the Chambre Syndicale de la Couture Parisienne, where many top French designers received their training.

During his time in Paris, Valentino honed his abilities, where he apprenticed under renowned couturiers Jean Dessès and Guy Laroche, which inspired his precise approach to tailoring, draping, and exquisite workmanship. During these formative years, he learned about the discipline of haute couture and the power of fashion as a means of cultural expression.

Valentino returned to Italy in the late 1950s and founded his fashion house in Rome in 1959, marking the beginning of a new era for Italian couture. His early collections drew attention for their romantic silhouettes, refined femininity, and impeccable construction. His international breakthrough came in 1962, when he staged his first major runway show at the Palazzo Pitti in Florence. The collection was an immediate sensation, earning critical acclaim and positioning Valentino as a leading voice in global fashion.

Valentino's signature look was timeless beauty combined with emotion and drama. This was most visible in his signature "Valentino red," a vibrant color that came to represent confidence, sensuality, and power. The hue would go on to define numerous dresses and red-carpet moments, establishing his legacy in fashion history.

Some of the world’s most influential women loved Valentino’s designs. His clients included Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, who often wore his clothes in her later years, along with Elizabeth Taylor, Audrey Hepburn, Sophia Loren, Princess Diana, and many modern celebrities who kept wearing his creations even after he retired. His gowns came to represent glamour, grace, and prestige.

Beyond celebrity dressing, Valentino helped elevate Italian fashion onto the same global stage as Parisian couture. He proved that Italian craftsmanship could rival—and redefine—luxury fashion, paving the way for future designers and brands. His work emphasized longevity over trends, celebrating beauty that transcended seasons and decades.

Valentino retired from fashion in 2008, leaving behind a house that continues to honor his vision while evolving with new creative leadership. Though he no longer owned the brand bearing his name later in life, his influence remained unmistakable. Valentino Garavani’s legacy lives on in every impeccably cut gown, every dramatic sweep of red fabric, and every designer inspired by his unwavering devotion to elegance.

He did not merely design clothes—he shaped an ideal of beauty that still defines fashion today.

Below are Valentino’s best looks in magazines, on red carpets, in film, and in music