On May 11, 1932, in Voghera, Italy, Valentino Clemente Ludovico Garavani was born.
This seemingly unimportant figure would go on to become one of fashion’s most iconic designers, shaping a legendary house and a lasting legacy. This is the story of the man behind the name and the house he built.
Valentino was always fascinated with fashion. According to “The Little Book of Valentino: The Story of the Iconic Fashion House,” as a young boy, he was captivated by evening gowns and loved sketching. At the age of 7, he went to the cinema with his sister and watched films starring Ava Gardner and Judy Garland.
Enamored with their fabulous attire, he was inspired to enroll in the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris. This was extremely ambitious — the French fashion scene wasn’t exactly welcoming to foreigners — but in true Valentino fashion, he succeeded.
Following his education, he returned to Italy and set up his label in Rome, where it remained until his retirement. The lifestyle of people living in Rome during the 1950s and 1960s was called “La Dolce Vita,” meaning “the sweet life” in Italian. This referred to the experiences of being in Rome at this time, which offered food, fashion and scenery unlike any other.
His first collection, Ibis, which he debuted in 1959, received strong press reviews. While Valentino was later understood to dislike the collection, one piece stood out. There was a dress titled Fiesta — a bright red, strapless, mid-length dress with tulle roses at the bottom.
This dress started it all. Valentino’s love affair with the color red began at a young age when he saw the legendary opera, “Carmen.” The set of this opera was mostly red, influencing Valentino to make the hue a part of his life. He began mixing fabrics in various reds and complementary colors, eventually resulting in what we know today as the beloved “Valentino Red.”
As Valentino became a worldwide phenomenon, so did his color. The shade became so iconic that it now has its own Pantone color code. Officially named Red 2035 by Pantone, this color blends carmine — a shade of magenta — with orange. The result? A poppy-like, fiery red that is both versatile and bold.
Ever since Valentino’s debut “Ibis” collection in 1959, he has debuted a red dress in every single one of his collections. Even when he retired, other creative directors were tasked with continuing the legacy: there is still a red dress in every collection released from the fashion house.
Many celebrities have worn Valentino Red gowns for award shows, including Jennifer Aniston, who wore the iconic Fiesta dress in 2004, Anne Hathaway at the 2002 Academy Awards and Jackie Kennedy in the 1960s. Jackie Onassis (formerly Jackie Kennedy) helped to establish Valentino as both an individual in the fashion industry and a reputable fashion house. After Valentino did work for Jackie Kennedy and was introduced to the American audience, his demand went up, with his first American store opening up in 1970. Many more American celebrities became Valentino clients — Brooke Shields being an example — as well as notable British figures such as Emma Watson, Audrey Hepburn and Princess Diana.
The documentary titled “Valentino: The Last Emperor” followed Valentino, his business partner Giancarlo Giammetti and their design team as they organized the Valentino 45th anniversary celebration and the Spring 2008 Couture Collection. Featuring a fashion show and a museum exhibit at the Ara Pacis Museum in Rome, this celebration sparked rumors of retirement — would this be Valentino’s last show?
Highlighting his journey through the fashion industry, the collection featured 200 (mostly white) outfits, representing the designer’s famous Spring 1968 “White Collection.” These were offset by — what else? — Valentino Red.
The museum exhibit held 300 mannequins wearing, you guessed it, white and red gowns. The exhibit was beautifully executed, with mannequins in red gowns on either side of the room, arranged on various elevated surfaces, and mannequins in white gowns on the flat surface in the middle. They created a pleasing contrast that equally represented the two colors that have had the biggest impact on Valentino’s life.
In the final minutes of his Winter 2008 Haute Couture Collection show, Valentino walked down the runway and was given a standing ovation. There was no shortage of tears as reality set in; his designs may never again set foot on the runway. These audience reactions and the remarks from his muses and friends reflect the incomparable impact he had on the fashion industry.
Known as the Last Emperor of fashion, according to an article from Vanity Fair, Valentino is seen as the last old‑school designer who valued structured, elegant designs rather than deconstructed or overly trendy ones. He didn’t sexualize women; instead, his work made them confident and beautiful. Across a 45‑year career, he created thousands of pieces, mostly womenswear, and his garments reveal the true artist within.
Valentino Garavani passed away peacefully in Rome on Jan. 16, 2026, but his legacy lives on through his fashion house and the creative directors who have taken up the torch. In 2019, the Valentino “Born in Roma” perfume was released by creative director Pierpaolo Piccioli. The name of this perfume represents the fashion house’s birth in Rome, as well as Valentino Garavani’s love for the city.
While Valentino may have been born in Voghera, Italy, he died in the place he loved most, Rome, leaving a legacy that won’t soon be forgotten. We’ll leave you with Valentino’s most cherished belief, the same thing that drove his career, designs and passion: “I know what women want. They want to be beautiful.”
SHOOT LEAD Mia Schwind, ASST. SHOOT LEAD Kate Flanagan | PHOTOGRAPHERS Abby Nocera, Ellis Berry | MODELS Mia Schwind, Heartly Phipps, Maddy Bellisari, Ava Barrett, Maggie Gu, Sherry Lam, Summer Neds, Sammy Chavez | VIDEOGRAPHER Halle Tebbe | HAIR & MAKEUP ARTIST Sammy Chavez
