Fashion Icon Valentino Dies at 93

By Danial Martinus • 20 Jan 2026 in Mains

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(source: Denis Balibouse / Reuters via New Straits Times)

The world of fashion has lost one of its biggest titans. Valentino Clemente Ludovico Garavani (known simply as Valentino), the Roman couturier who turned elegance into a global language, has died at 93.

He passed away on Monday, 19 January 2026 at his home in Rome, surrounded by loved ones, closing the final chapter of an illustrious career that shaped how fashion looks, feels, and moves.

A lifetime of accolades

(source: Carl Court / AFP via New Straits Times)

Named after silent film heart-throb Rudolph Valentino, Garavani always had an air of drama about him. It brought him to places like Paris, where as a 17-year-old, he insisted on learning couture the right way.

He eventually returned to Rome, where he unveiled his first collection in 1959. From his modest atelier near Via Condotti, he embarked on a daring journey to redefine Italian fashion at a time when Paris still monopolised the industry.

With his friend and business partner, Giancarlo Giammetti, Valentino built an empire known for its strict discipline, beauty, and the relentless pursuit of what he called “the perfect dress”.

(source: Alessandro Bianchi / Reuters via New Straits Times)

His designs were iconic not because they chased trends (they never did), but because they always focused on perfect fit and proportions, instilling a sense of timeless confidence in the women wearing his pieces.

Some of the world’s most important women entrusted him to make them look their very best, including the likes of Jackie Kennedy, Elizabeth Taylor, and even Italian noblewoman Marella Agnelli.

Dressing women like them helped Italian fashion step out of France’s shadow.

But it isn’t purely fashion that Valentino influenced. It was the way we see colour too, bringing us to “Valentino Red”, which became the default way to physically embody passion and power. It’s striking, vibrant, and instantly recognisable.

Gone, but never forgotten

(source: Luciano Mellace / Reuters via New Straits Times)

Valentino officially retired from the runway in 2008, bowing out with the grace he always demanded of his clothes.

Despite taking a step back, his influence never really faded. Designers still study his work, and red carpets still follow his strict code. The fashion icon redefined elegance, turning it into a form of respect for both the wearer and the craft.