The global fashion community gathered in solemn tribute on Friday morning as legendary designer Valentino Garavani received his final farewell at Rome’s Basilica di Santa Maria degli Angeli e dei Martiri. The funeral service culminated two days of public viewing at the Valentino foundation headquarters, where hundreds of admirers paid respects to the man celebrated as Italian fashion’s “last emperor.”
Prominent figures from fashion, media, and entertainment converged upon the Italian capital to honor the late designer’s legacy. The distinguished attendees included fashion luminaries Tom Ford and Donatella Versace, Vogue’s influential editor Anna Wintour, and acclaimed actress Anne Hathaway, representing the deep connections Valentino forged across creative industries.
Valentino, who passed away peacefully at age 93 in his Roman residence on Monday, dressed generations of royalty, first ladies, and Hollywood elite. His clientele included iconic figures such as Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Jordan’s Queen Rania, and Oscar-winning actress Julia Roberts, who frequently praised the designer’s unparalleled ability to make women look and feel extraordinary.
The designer maintained his primary atelier in Rome throughout his career while presenting his collections predominantly in Paris. His sumptuous creations became synonymous with red carpet glamour, most memorably when Julia Roberts accepted her 2001 Best Actress Oscar in a vintage black and white column gown. Cate Blanchett similarly chose a butter-yellow silk Valentino creation with distinctive one-shoulder design when she won the Best Supporting Actress award in 2005.
Valentino’s passing marks the conclusion of an era in haute couture, leaving behind a legacy of exquisite craftsmanship and timeless elegance that transformed how women experience luxury fashion.