{"id":10914,"date":"2026-01-19T16:22:49","date_gmt":"2026-01-20T00:22:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/?p=10914"},"modified":"2026-01-19T16:22:49","modified_gmt":"2026-01-20T00:22:49","slug":"the-fashion-industry-and-the-world-react-to-valentinos-death","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/?p=10914","title":{"rendered":"The Fashion Industry and the World React to Valentino&#8217;s Death"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><\/p>\n<div>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tThe news of Valentino Garavani\u2019s death came at the tail end of Milan Men\u2019s Fashion Week and memories and thoughts about the couturier, his legacy and his persona came pouring in. <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tHere is what the industry and the world at large said:    <\/p>\n<h2 class=\"heading larva \/\/   lrv-a-font-primary-xl u-font-size-38@desktop-xl u-font-size-26 u-font-size-22@mobile-max   \">\n\t\tDesigners\t<\/h2>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\t<strong>Alessandro Michele, <\/strong>creative director of Valentino:<strong> <\/strong>\u201cI am immensely saddened. An extraordinary man passed away today. Valentino Garavani was not only an undisputed protagonist of fashion, but a central figure in Italian cultural history, capable of transforming a craft into a language, an artisanal gesture into a vision of the world. <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\t\u201cValentino knew how to sculpt desire and dress it with lightness, he taught that elegance is a discipline one must remain faithful to throughout one\u2019s life. He was able to push the boundaries of possibility, crossing the world with a rare delicacy, a silent rigor and a boundless love for beauty. He will be deeply missed by all those he worked with, by those who loved him, by those who learned by watching him, even from afar.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\t\u201cHe leaves a profound legacy behind: the idea that creating means caring, that beauty is radical and patient attention to bodies, to shapes, and to the time that passes through and preserves them. Death, perhaps, is not just an end. It is the moment when a presence ceases to belong to the time of action and becomes the responsibility of those who remain. It does not erase what has been, but rather hands it over to the future, asking to be remembered not as an immobile memory, but as a force that continues to act, to orient, to question our lives. If, as a poet said, \u201cto love means to continue another\u2019s discourse,\u201d then our task is to accept this debt of love, to preserve that discourse that precedes us, to keep it alive in the time given to us, so that it continues to speak in the gestures we make and in the way we inhabit the world. In this moment, as I work, I strongly feel how his gaze continues to accompany ours. As a measure, as a responsibility, as a promise of possible grace.\u201d<br \/>\u00a0<br \/><strong>Pierpaolo Piccioli: <\/strong>\u201cI say goodbye to a master, a mentor and a profoundly generous spirit. He taught me that fashion is joy, a serious and demanding joy, and that beauty is not decoration but a refuge, a form of protection against the world. His guidance shaped not only my work, but the way I see and inhabit creativity. His presence will be deeply missed, yet what he gave us remains: in memory, in love and in the elegance of ideas that will continue to live on. My deepest condolences go to his family, and to Giancarlo, whose love protected him, sheltering him from the harshness of the world, and allowing his gentleness and vision to remain intact.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"post-content-image \/\/  \">\n<figure class=\"o-figure   aligncenter size-full aligncenter lrv-u-max-width-100p\" style=\"width:100%; max-width:1024px;\">\n<div class=\"c-lazy-image  \">\n<div class=\"lrv-a-crop-16x9\" style=\"padding-bottom:calc((978\/1024)*100%);\">\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" class=\"c-lazy-image__img lrv-u-background-color-grey-lightest lrv-u-width-100p lrv-u-display-block lrv-u-height-auto\" src=\"https:\/\/wwd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/valentino-through-the-years-40.jpg?w=300\" alt=\"Valentino and Pierpaolo Piccioli backstage\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wwd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/valentino-through-the-years-40.jpg 2000w, https:\/\/wwd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/valentino-through-the-years-40.jpg?resize=150,143 150w, https:\/\/wwd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/valentino-through-the-years-40.jpg?resize=300,287 300w\" data-lazy-sizes=\"(min-width: 87.5rem) 1000px, (min-width: 78.75rem) 681px, (min-width: 48rem) 450px, (max-width: 48rem) 250px\" height=\"978\" width=\"1024\" decoding=\"async\"\/><\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div><figcaption class=\"c-figcaption  a-font-secondary-regular-m lrv-u-margin-t-050\">\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"\">Valentino and Pierpaolo Piccioli<\/span><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<cite class=\"a-font-secondary-regular-s lrv-u-text-transform-uppercase u-font-size-11 lrv-u-color-grey lrv-u-margin-l-025\">Stephane Feugere\/WWD<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\t<strong>Maria Grazia Chiuri<\/strong>: \u201c\u2018Apr\u00e8s moi le d\u00e9luge.\u2019 With him, an irreplaceable time comes to an end. I will always carry with me what he taught me. With infinite gratitude.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\t<strong>Donatella Versace: <\/strong>\u201cToday we lost a true Maestro. I will never forget Valentino. He and Giancarlo were immediately by my side after I and the rest of the world found out about the tragic death of my brother [Gianni]. They gave me their unwavering support and friendship at such a difficult time. He will forever have a very special place in my heart.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\t<strong>The Armani Company:<\/strong> \u201cThe Armani family and Leo Dell\u2019Orco express their condolences for the passing of Valentino and join Giancarlo Giammetti and his loved ones in their grief. An undisputed master of grace and elegance, for whom Giorgio Armani always held the utmost respect, Valentino embodied the excellence of couture, the precision of craftsmanship and a unique vision of fashion defined by pure lines, iconic colors and absolute beauty. His passing leaves an immense void.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\t<strong>Ralph Lauren:<\/strong> \u201cWe all knew him by his first name \u2014 Valentino, a romantic name he lived up to through the artfulness of the collections he designed and the passion for beauty that inspired him for so many decades. He said that women wanted to be \u2018beautiful\u2019 and that was his inspiration throughout his life. He was an icon in the world of fashion, and beyond, but more than that he was a man that loved life, his family and friends that will miss him, but whose memory will live on through the timeless beauty of the world he created.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\t<strong>Miuccia Prada and Patrizio Bertelli<\/strong>: \u201cWe remember Valentino Garavani with deep respect for his creativity and sense of elegance. Today, we lose an important voice \u2014 a true representative of Italian fashion on the global stage.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\t<strong>Raf Simons<\/strong>: \u201cValentino Garavani was a true innovator, presenting haute couture with unparalleled vision and refinement on the international stage. His creativity and elegance have made a profound contribution to the global appreciation of Italian fashion.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\t<strong>Matthieu Blazy, <\/strong>creative director of Chanel<strong>:<\/strong> \u201cValentino Garavani approached fashion like a baroque architect. He was an extraordinary colorist, an artist, a poet. From the most extravagant dress to the simplest blouse, the creations he dreamed of always served women, as much on the red carpet as in their everyday lives.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\t<strong>Brunello Cucinelli:<\/strong> \u201cTo our extraordinary Valentino,\u00a0a brilliant artist who always cherished work, beauty and refinement; one of the enduring symbols of 20th-century Italian fashion, to whom we owe our deepest homage. May Creation itself welcome him in his great splendor.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\t<strong>Diane von Furstenberg:<\/strong> \u201cI was very friendly with him. I first met him with Marisa Berenson in Capri. He was a perfectionist and was meticulous about everything. He loved beauty and he loved his house and how to decorate the tables. He has a great family. He and Giancarlo always had friends around them, and the friends became family. Giancarlo was the most wonderful partner to him.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\t<strong>Alberta Ferretti: <\/strong>\u201cFarewell, dear Valentino. You taught us that beauty can be gentle, and elegance eternal. Your vision moved like a dream through fabric and light, leaving behind grace, silence and wonder. You will forever walk among us, where art becomes emotion and fashion becomes poetry.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\t<strong>Lorenzo Serafini,<\/strong> creative director of Alberta Ferretti:<strong> <\/strong>\u201cValentino was a forever reference of my dreams. He shaped my teenage imagination and defined what elegance could mean to me. Someone I always admired \u2014 not only for what he created, but for the way he made dreaming feel possible.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\t<strong>Willy Chavarria<\/strong>: \u201cThe fashion world will be quieter with the passing of Valentino Garavani. He understood that beauty is not decoration, but devotion born from love. Valentino dressed people as if honoring their inner lives. His legacy is not only what we saw, but what we felt.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\t<strong>Dean and Dan Caten: <\/strong>\u201cValentino Garavani shaped fashion for generations and defined an enduring idea of beauty. His vision, elegance and fearless creativity will live on forever.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\t<strong>Antonio Marras<\/strong>: \u201cValentino did not just dress women; he gave shape to their most secret dreams, coloring the world with a red that is not just a color, but a heartbeat, a pure emotion, an indelible mark in history. Today we all feel a little more naked, a little less enchanted. His designs will remain eternal, as do his skilled hands that knew how to stop time. We bid him farewell with the melancholy of children watching their elegant father depart, but grateful for teaching us that the only way to be eternal is to seek absolute harmony, without ceasing.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\t<strong>Giambattista Valli:<\/strong> \u201cI feel a little bit orphaned because it was like [he] was always next to me, from my childhood to my teenage moments. [It\u2019s like the loss of] a spiritual parent. I always used to say to him it [was his] fault if I\u2019m doing this job and it made him laugh. I grew up in Rome so I started to create dreams in my mind thanks to him and then, in my teenage years [developed] my vision of beauty through his vision \u2014 without working with him. [He loved] this Valentino family that was always surrounding him \u2014 so faithful to him and he so faithful to all of them. Such a beautiful image and such a beautiful inspiration to all of us.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\t<strong>Tom Ford<\/strong>: \u201cI am absolutely stricken with grief. Valentino was not only one of the greatest designers of his generation who influenced fashion for decades, but he was a close and true friend for many years. I am grateful not only to have known him, but to have many memories of our time together. It is a sad day not only for fashion, but for all of those who knew him.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\t<strong>Kris Van Assche: <\/strong>\u201cMr. Valentino stood as an example, a hero \u2014 proving that beauty, when rooted in cut, discipline and emotion, never becomes old-fashioned. He embodied old-world beauty, yet reminded us that elegance is not nostalgia, but a form of courage.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\t<strong>Laura Lusuardi, <\/strong>fashion coordinator of Max Mara: \u201cValentino Garavani was a great couturier who contributed to spread Italian beauty and craftsmanship throughout the world. His creativity was synonymous with elegance and femininity. Valentino will remain an icon and a master for new generations.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"post-content-image \/\/  \">\n<figure class=\"o-figure   aligncenter size-full aligncenter lrv-u-max-width-100p\" style=\"width:100%; max-width:1024px;\">\n<div class=\"c-lazy-image  \">\n<div class=\"lrv-a-crop-16x9\" style=\"padding-bottom:calc((1535\/1024)*100%);\">\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<img class=\"c-lazy-image__img lrv-u-background-color-grey-lightest lrv-u-width-100p lrv-u-display-block lrv-u-height-auto\" src=\"https:\/\/wwd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/valentino-through-the-years-12-1.jpg?w=200\" alt=\"Giancarlo Giametti and Valentino Garavani attend Vanity Fair's 19th annual Oscars party at the Sunset Tower Hotel.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wwd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/valentino-through-the-years-12-1.jpg 1334w, https:\/\/wwd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/valentino-through-the-years-12-1.jpg?resize=100,150 100w, https:\/\/wwd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/valentino-through-the-years-12-1.jpg?resize=200,300 200w\" data-lazy-sizes=\"(min-width: 87.5rem) 1000px, (min-width: 78.75rem) 681px, (min-width: 48rem) 450px, (max-width: 48rem) 250px\" height=\"1535\" width=\"1024\" decoding=\"async\"\/><\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div><figcaption class=\"c-figcaption  a-font-secondary-regular-m lrv-u-margin-t-050\">\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"\">Giancarlo Giametti and Valentino Garavani attend Vanity Fair\u2019s 19th annual Oscars party at the Sunset Tower Hotel.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<cite class=\"a-font-secondary-regular-s lrv-u-text-transform-uppercase u-font-size-11 lrv-u-color-grey lrv-u-margin-l-025\">Fairchild Archive\/Penske Media<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\t<strong>Lavinia Biagiotti Cigna, <\/strong>president and chief executive officer of Biagiotti Group: \u201cWith Valentino, I\u2019m not just losing a great friend but a legendary master who could turn shapes into pure beauty, gestures into emotions and elegance into a universal language. From him, I learned that grace is a daily choice, an act of discipline and love, the result of a discerning gaze, and a profoundly kind soul. Dear Valentino, thank you for your friendship and for making our time infinitely more beautiful. With love, Lavinia.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\t<strong>Marco De Vincenzo<\/strong>, creative director of Etro: \u201cI took my first trip to Rome when I was 14, to deliver a letter to Mr. Valentino, in which I was applying for [a role] as his apprentice. It was premature, I know, but dreams begin at that age, and I had decided to hand him mine. Many things have happened ever since, and I never worked for Valentino, but thanks to the power of his name, I\u2019ve never stopped dreaming even for a second.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\t<strong>Giuliano Calza, <\/strong>founder and creative director of GCDS<strong>:<\/strong> \u201cFor me, it all started with a pug on a tennis skirt my mum cherished the most. Later on, I discovered that Valentino created an entire world made of elegance, beauty and joy. A world that will continue to inspire generations of creatives. A fantasy so pure, so precise, that it will never be surpassed. Perfection, once achieved, does not need to be repeated.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\t<strong>Vera Wang<\/strong>: \u201cTo my dear friend\u2026Valentino, a true designer and the ultimate influencer. Your love for women and beauty never wavered nor your talent and generosity. I will personally miss you enormously and your unabashed sense of glamour and style! RIP. XXV\u201d<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"heading larva \/\/   lrv-a-font-primary-xl u-font-size-38@desktop-xl u-font-size-26 u-font-size-22@mobile-max   \">\n\t\tExecutives\t<\/h2>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\t<strong>Bernard Arnault,<\/strong> chairman and CEO of LVMH Mo\u00ebt Hennessy Louis Vuitton: \u201cHe was the creator of a refined, radiant and sumptuous fashion, defined by generous draping, which he inseparably wove together with cinema. Trained in Paris in his youth, Valentino was an tireless champion of haute couture craftsmanship and a great friend of France.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\t<strong>Carlo Capasa, <\/strong>chairman of Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana<strong>:<\/strong> \u201cValentino Garavani was a creator of timeless beauty and elegance. His fashion spanned eras, cultures, generations and languages, inspiring dreams, visions and a profound sense of excellence. His creations became symbols of style and glamour, worn by the protagonists of history and by central figures of international cultural life. His aesthetic, coherent and rigorous, never chased trends, but was able to unite artisanal heritage and modernity, contributing decisively to the global recognition of Italian fashion. Through his journey, he elevated haute couture to a cultural heritage of our country, leaving a profound legacy for the entire system.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\t<strong>Bruno\u00a0Pavlovsky,<\/strong> president of the F\u00e9d\u00e9ration de la Haute Couture et de la Mode:\u00a0\u201cThroughout his career, Valentino Garavani united technical mastery with creative audacity. His Roman ateliers became a place of ongoing transmission where he trained generations of artisans in the most exacting and precise techniques of the craft. These savoir-faire, perpetuated by those he mentored in his ateliers, form a vital legacy for the future of Couture.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\t<strong>Pascal Morand, <\/strong>executive president of the F\u00e9d\u00e9ration de la Haute Couture et de la Mode:\u00a0\u201cTrained in Paris at the Ecole de la Chambre Syndicale de la Couture Parisienne, Valentino\u00a0Garavani\u00a0has always had a strong connection with the Parisian scene, which he has honored with his fashion shows during Paris Fashion Week and Haute Couture Week since 1989. He has thus fostered a creative dialogue of great aesthetic depth between Rome and Paris, between Italy and France, while\u00a0establishing\u00a0his work in the global cultural arena at an exceptional level.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<div class=\"post-content-image \/\/  \">\n<figure class=\"o-figure   aligncenter size-full aligncenter lrv-u-max-width-100p\" style=\"width:100%; max-width:1024px;\">\n<div class=\"c-lazy-image  \">\n<div class=\"lrv-a-crop-16x9\" style=\"padding-bottom:calc((1538\/1024)*100%);\">\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<img class=\"c-lazy-image__img lrv-u-background-color-grey-lightest lrv-u-width-100p lrv-u-display-block lrv-u-height-auto\" src=\"https:\/\/wwd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/valentino-through-the-years-35.jpg?w=200\" alt=\"Designer Valentino Garavani poses for a portrait with a model.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wwd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/valentino-through-the-years-35.jpg 1332w, https:\/\/wwd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/valentino-through-the-years-35.jpg?resize=100,150 100w, https:\/\/wwd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/valentino-through-the-years-35.jpg?resize=200,300 200w\" data-lazy-sizes=\"(min-width: 87.5rem) 1000px, (min-width: 78.75rem) 681px, (min-width: 48rem) 450px, (max-width: 48rem) 250px\" height=\"1538\" width=\"1024\" decoding=\"async\"\/><\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div><figcaption class=\"c-figcaption  a-font-secondary-regular-m lrv-u-margin-t-050\">\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"\">Designer Valentino Garavani poses for a portrait with a model.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<cite class=\"a-font-secondary-regular-s lrv-u-text-transform-uppercase u-font-size-11 lrv-u-color-grey lrv-u-margin-l-025\">Tim Jenkins\/WWD\/Penske Media<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\t<strong>Gildo Zegna, <\/strong>executive chairman of the Ermenegildo Zegna Group: \u201cI am deeply saddened. Valentino Garavani was a true example of elegance. His extraordinary creativity played a significant role in strengthening the global standing of Made in Italy. His vision, his refined sense of style, and his\u00a0creative discipline will continue to inspire the luxury industry for generations to come.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\t<strong>Luca de Meo,<\/strong> CEO of Kering: \u201cIt is with deep emotion that I learn of the passing of Valentino Garavani. An exceptional creator and a major figure of Italian haute couture, he embodied a sense of style that has profoundly shaped our collective imagination. Valentino elevated elegance into a universal language, blending tradition and audacity with rare precision. His legacy remains one of the strongest expressions of Italian culture. My thoughts are with his family, his loved ones and especially with Giancarlo Giammetti. His spirit will continue to live on through the house that bears his name.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\t<strong>Marco Bizzarri:<\/strong> \u201cMr. Valentino is a beacon of Italian elegance \u2014 a master whose creativity and humanity touched generations. His legacy will live on through the extraordinary house he built and the people he inspired. My thoughts and deepest condolences are with Giancarlo and the entire Valentino family. We will all miss him profoundly.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\t<strong>Matteo Marzotto, <\/strong>whose family company acquired the Valentino brand in 2002: \u201cIt\u2019s a piece of history and of my life that is over. He was a real couturier, a man of extraordinary sensibility. He was serially inspired, he would sketch all the time. He was inspired by his trips around the world and would draw on pieces of paper and put them in his pockets, then once home reinterpret them.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\t<strong>Leonardo Ferragamo, <\/strong>chairman at Salvatore Ferragamo: \u201cThe world and Italy will tribute Valentino forever as one of the true masters of elegance. He was a visionary who elevated fashion to a universal language of beauty, discipline and poetry. His legacy has shaped generations of designers and played a fundamental role in defining the global style, creativity and prestige of Italy all over the globe.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\t<strong>Michele Norsa, <\/strong>former Valentino CEO: \u201cValentino was an incomparable maestro of style and elegance. Around him, all seemed perfect and almost unreal. His homes, his gardens, the most beautiful women and the dreamy dresses.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\t<strong>Cyril Chapuy,<\/strong> president of L\u2019Or\u00e9al Luxe, which holds the Valentino beauty license: \u201cMr. Valentino Garavani was more than a couturier; he was a creative genius who redefined glamour. His daring spirit and passion for color will continue to live on through our beauty creations that remain forever infused with the timeless soul of Rome.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\t<strong>Domenico De Sole:<\/strong> \u201cHe was a gentleman, and one of the truly great designers of his generation alongside Giorgio Armani, Karl Lagerfeld and Yves Saint Laurent. He was one of the greatest, and a real star.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\t<strong>British Fashion Council<\/strong>: \u201cWe are saddened to learn of the passing of designer Valentino Garavani, the visionary founder and former creative director of Valentino. Over the course of nearly five decades, Mr. Valentino shaped the world of fashion with unparalleled elegance, and in 2023, he was honored with Outstanding Achievement Award at The Fashion Awards, celebrating a legacy that continues to inspire designers, models, artisans and audiences globally. His couture, worn across the world\u2019s most memorable catwalks and red carpets, redefined glamour and set new standards for craftsmanship. Our thoughts are with his family and friends.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"heading larva \/\/   lrv-a-font-primary-xl u-font-size-38@desktop-xl u-font-size-26 u-font-size-22@mobile-max   \">\n\t\tCelebrities\t<\/h2>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\t<strong>Colman Domingo,<\/strong> on Instagram: \u201cThank you Mr. Valentino for inspiring so many to be beautiful. To quote: \u2018There are only three things I can do: make a dress, decorate a house and entertain people.\u2019 This man lived a life to make beautiful things and to make us all feel like we are living in a fantasy that becomes ones reality. I am most proud of my ambassadorship with\u00a0Maison Valentino\u00a0because of his story. A life well lived.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\t<strong>Olivia Palermo<\/strong>: \u201cI not only lost one of my dearest friends \u2014 my heart is with Giancarlo, Bruce and the Garavani family \u2014 but the world lost an incomparable visionary. His lifetime of work forever changed how we see beauty, elegance and femininity. Through couture, ready-to-wear and an unmistakable visual language, he set the foundation generations of designers continue to build upon. I will miss his warmth, his humor, his kindness and his ability to make a woman feel truly beautiful. The world touches a piece of Valentino every day \u2014 something I will always hold close, along with my memories of him and the guidance he gave me.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\t<strong>Elizabeth Saltzman,<\/strong> stylist: \u201cValentino dressed women with elegance, extreme knowledge and creativity \u2014 his clothes were never boring. He started with a proper sketch, he traveled, he researched \u2014 and was interested in so much. He understood his customers\u2019 world. He was the definition of elegance, quality, longevity and beauty \u2014 it was always about beauty. I will miss the beauty.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\t<strong>Gwyneth Paltrow<\/strong>: \u201cI was so lucky to know and love Valentino \u2014 to know the real man, in private. The man who was in love with beauty, his family, his muses, his friends, his dogs, his gardens and a good Hollywood story. I loved him so much. I loved how he always pestered me to \u2018at least wear a little mascara\u2019 when I came to dinner. I loved his naughty laugh. This feels like the end of an era. He will be deeply missed by me and all who loved him. Rest in peace, Vava.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"post-content-image \/\/  \">\n<figure class=\"o-figure   aligncenter size-full aligncenter lrv-u-max-width-100p\" style=\"width:100%; max-width:1024px;\">\n<div class=\"c-lazy-image  \">\n<div class=\"lrv-a-crop-16x9\" style=\"padding-bottom:calc((1542\/1024)*100%);\">\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"c-lazy-image__img lrv-u-background-color-grey-lightest lrv-u-width-100p lrv-u-display-block lrv-u-height-auto\" src=\"https:\/\/wwd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/valentino-through-the-years-10-1.jpg?w=199\" alt=\"Valentino Garavani and Gwyneth Paltrow attend VBH's Valentino: The Last Emperor DVD signing party at VBH Madison Avenue.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wwd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/valentino-through-the-years-10-1.jpg 1328w, https:\/\/wwd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/valentino-through-the-years-10-1.jpg?resize=100,150 100w, https:\/\/wwd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/valentino-through-the-years-10-1.jpg?resize=199,300 199w\" data-lazy-sizes=\"(min-width: 87.5rem) 1000px, (min-width: 78.75rem) 681px, (min-width: 48rem) 450px, (max-width: 48rem) 250px\" height=\"1542\" width=\"1024\" decoding=\"async\"\/><\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div><figcaption class=\"c-figcaption  a-font-secondary-regular-m lrv-u-margin-t-050\">\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"\">Valentino Garavani and Gwyneth Paltrow attend VBH\u2019s \u201cValentino: The Last Emperor\u201d DVD signing party at VBH Madison Avenue.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<cite class=\"a-font-secondary-regular-s lrv-u-text-transform-uppercase u-font-size-11 lrv-u-color-grey lrv-u-margin-l-025\">Fairchild Archive\/Penske Media<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\t<strong>Claudia Schiffer<\/strong>: \u201cHeartbroken to hear of the passing of my old friend Valentino. He is what true legends are made of, living on forever through the brand he created, the embodiment of timeless elegance and glamour. I loved the special times where I got to bring his creations to life on and off the runway. One of my favorite campaigns was in Rome where I became Anita Ekberg in \u2018La Dolce Vita,\u2019 a memory I will cherish forever. I will remember the fun holidays l spent with him in Mallorca, Ibiza and Saint-Tropez. My Valentino wedding gown, which I have framed at home, is a constant reminder of his gentle, generous, sweet and loyal nature. Having him create my wedding gown was one of the great honors of my life, a moment I will cherish forever. I feel so proud to have been a part of his life. Repose en paix, Monsieur Valentino.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\t<strong>Cindy Crawford<\/strong>: \u201cI\u2019m heartbroken to hear of Valentino Garavani\u2019s passing. He was a true master of his craft, and I will always be grateful for the years I had the privilege of working closely with him.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\t<strong>Carla Bruni<\/strong>: \u201cI am deeply moved by the passing of the great Valentino, who leaves behind so much beauty for the world. He was a master, and it was an honor and a great privilege to know him and walk for him. I will always remember his immense kindness and infinite elegance. My thoughts are with Giancarlo Giammetti and the entire Valentino family. Rest in peace.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\t<strong>Matt Tyrnauer,<\/strong> filmmaker of \u201cValentino: The Last Emperor\u201d: \u201cValentino really stands out as one of its greatest practitioners and defining talent and icon and trailblazer of his time. At the time I made the film, people referred to him as the greatest dressmaker of all time, which was a compliment that meant that he made clothes that you could wear. And he really cared about how women looked and felt and wanted to feel. Whereas a lot of other people who were in the generation behind him were being more artistic, if not innovative. I think that legacy holds up. But I would say that from this perspective, he and Giancarlo Giammetti really transformed the industry and deserve a lot of credit for making fashion global.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\t<strong>Coco Rocha<\/strong>: \u201cToday fashion lost another giant of our industry, and a true gentleman. I was lucky to know Valentino, not just as the iconic Roman couturier, but as a warm, generous presence who shaped fashion with grace, discipline, and beauty. His legacy lives on in the restraint, elegance and conviction that defined both the man and his work.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"post-content-image \/\/  \">\n<figure class=\"o-figure   aligncenter size-full aligncenter lrv-u-max-width-100p\" style=\"width:100%; max-width:1024px;\">\n<div class=\"c-lazy-image  \">\n<div class=\"lrv-a-crop-16x9\" style=\"padding-bottom:calc((1538\/1024)*100%);\">\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"c-lazy-image__img lrv-u-background-color-grey-lightest lrv-u-width-100p lrv-u-display-block lrv-u-height-auto\" src=\"https:\/\/wwd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/valentino-through-the-years-46.jpg?w=200\" alt=\"Valentino and Marie Chantal of Greece in vintage Valentino attend the Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute's annual Gala to celebrate the &quot;Jacqueline Kennedy: The White House Years&quot; exhibition on April 24, 2001 in New York.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wwd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/valentino-through-the-years-46.jpg 1332w, https:\/\/wwd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/valentino-through-the-years-46.jpg?resize=100,150 100w, https:\/\/wwd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/valentino-through-the-years-46.jpg?resize=200,300 200w\" data-lazy-sizes=\"(min-width: 87.5rem) 1000px, (min-width: 78.75rem) 681px, (min-width: 48rem) 450px, (max-width: 48rem) 250px\" height=\"1538\" width=\"1024\" decoding=\"async\"\/><\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div><figcaption class=\"c-figcaption  a-font-secondary-regular-m lrv-u-margin-t-050\">\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"\">Valentino and Marie Chantal of Greece in vintage Valentino attend the Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute\u2019s annual Gala to celebrate the \u201cJacqueline Kennedy: The White House Years\u201d exhibition on April 24, 2001, in New York.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<cite class=\"a-font-secondary-regular-s lrv-u-text-transform-uppercase u-font-size-11 lrv-u-color-grey lrv-u-margin-l-025\">Steve Eichner\/WWD\/Penske Media<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<h2 class=\"heading larva \/\/   lrv-a-font-primary-xl u-font-size-38@desktop-xl u-font-size-26 u-font-size-22@mobile-max   \">\n\t\tRetailers\t<\/h2>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\t<strong>Mariella Elia, <\/strong>managing director at Rinascente<strong>: <\/strong>\u201cWith the death of Valentino Garavani, an absolute master of style disappears, who transformed elegance into a universal language. But his red will remain immortal.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\t<strong>Geoffroy van Raemdonck, <\/strong>CEO at Saks Global: \u201cValentino Garavani was one of the architects of true elegance and Italian Haute Couture. His vision, discipline and unwavering commitment to beauty shaped fashion in ways that will endure forever. With his trusted partner, Giancarlo Giammetti, they built an extraordinary luxury house with whom we have been privileged to share a decades-long relationship. Beyond our professional partnership, I was fortunate to know Valentino personally, and to experience firsthand the grace, generosity and humanity that matched his creative genius. His legacy will remain inseparable from the history of fashion. Valentino will be deeply missed. On behalf of Saks Global, we extend our deepest sympathies to his family, friends and all who had the honor of knowing him.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\t<strong>Simon Longland, <\/strong>director of buying, fashion at Harrods: \u201cValentino Garavani was one of the last true titans of fashion. Established more than 60 years ago, he built his maison to embody glamour, elegance and an unmistakably ultra-feminine sensibility, redefining the way women dressed for both day and evening. His extraordinary archive remains a rich and enduring source of inspiration, and few designers can claim something so singular as a color of their own \u2014 yet \u2018Valentino Red\u2019 stands as one of the most iconic signatures in the history of fashion. Valentino has always held a profoundly important place within Harrods, through long-standing collaborations and a deep connection with our clients and our teams. At this moment, we stand close to his family, to Mr. Giancarlo Giammetti, and to the entire Valentino Maison, honoring a legacy that will continue to define beauty, femininity and elegance for generations to come.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\t<strong>Judd Crane,<\/strong> executive director, buying and brand at Selfridges: \u201cWe are much inspired by Valentino\u2019s words, \u2018Fashion is about dreaming and making other people dream.\u2019 He was a legendary designer, master couturier and emperor of elegance.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\t<strong>Andrew Burnstine,<\/strong> associate professor at Lynn University and former executive vice president of Martha Inc.: \u201cThe bond\u00a0between Martha Phillips, Lynn Manulis, and Valentino spanned for more than 40 years, but it was far more than a business arrangement. Martha was truly a second mother to those two young men.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tPhillips opened the first Valentino boutique in Palm Beach and would often demand changes to one of his designs to get an exclusive version. \u201cHe leaves behind a legacy of unmatched beauty, but the most enduring part of it all was that simple, 40-year promise he made whenever Martha asked for the impossible. He would just smile and say, \u2018Yes, Martha, only for you.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The news of Valentino Garavani\u2019s death came at the tail end of Milan Men\u2019s Fashion Week and memories and thoughts about the couturier, his legacy and his persona came pouring in. Here is what the industry and the world at large said: Designers Alessandro Michele, creative director of Valentino: \u201cI am immensely saddened. An extraordinary man passed away today. Valentino Garavani was not only an undisputed protagonist of fashion, but a central figure in Italian cultural history, capable of transforming a craft into a language, an artisanal gesture into a vision of the world. \u201cValentino knew how to sculpt desire and dress it with lightness, he taught that elegance is a discipline one must remain faithful to throughout one\u2019s life. He was able to push the boundaries of possibility, crossing the world with a rare delicacy, a silent rigor and a boundless love for beauty. He will be deeply missed by all those he worked with, by those who loved him, by those who learned by watching him, even from afar. \u201cHe leaves a profound legacy behind: the idea that creating means caring, that beauty is radical and patient attention to bodies, to shapes, and to the time that passes through and preserves them. Death, perhaps, is not just an end. It is the moment when a presence ceases to belong to the time of action and becomes the responsibility of those who remain. It does not erase what has been, but rather hands it over to the future, asking to be remembered not as an immobile memory, but as a force that continues to act, to orient, to question our lives. If, as a poet said, \u201cto love means to continue another\u2019s discourse,\u201d then our task is to accept this debt of love, to preserve that discourse that precedes us, to keep it alive in the time given to us, so that it continues to speak in the gestures we make and in the way we inhabit the world. In this moment, as I work, I strongly feel how his gaze continues to accompany ours. As a measure, as a responsibility, as a promise of possible &#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":10915,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[2],"tags":[],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10914"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=10914"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10914\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/10915"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=10914"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=10914"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=10914"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}