The world of couture has lost its most vibrant color. On January 17, 2026, Valentino Garavani, universally known as “The Last Emperor,” passed away at the age of 93, leaving an impossible void in the history of fashion. More than a designer, Valentino was the architect of Roman glamour, a man who understood that beauty is not a luxury, but a necessity for the human spirit.

Over nearly six decades, Valentino not only dressed the most influential women in the world, but also created a standard of sophistication that balanced the discipline of haute couture with an innate sensuality. At #VEINDIGITAL, we revisit the 7 key moments that defined the career of the man who turned red into a religion.

1. The Birth of “Valentino Red”

It all began on an opera night in Barcelona. Still a young student, Valentino was captivated by a woman dressed in red in a box at the Liceu. That visual impact became his obsession and the cornerstone of his fashion house. In 1959, when he opened his first atelier in Rome, he introduced “Rosso Valentino”: a perfect blend of 100% magenta, 100% yellow, and 10% black. This color was not just a shade; it was a statement of intent, a symbol of passion, power, and femininity that would become one of the most recognizable signatures in global fashion.

2. The Arrival at Palazzo Pitti

In 1962, Valentino decided to present his collection in Florence, then the capital of Italian fashion. The show at the historic Palazzo Pitti was the moment the world surrendered to him. His designs were so exquisite and their execution so flawless that he received orders from international buyers as soon as the show ended. It marked the official birth of a superstar and the beginning of an era in which Rome would challenge Paris’s hegemony in Haute Couture.

3. The White Collection and Jackie Kennedy

In 1968, in a world dominated by psychedelia and the colors of the hippie movement, Valentino dared to do the unthinkable: a collection entirely in shades of white, cream, and ivory. It was an exercise in visual purity and mastery of cut. This collection not only consolidated his iconic capital “V” logo, but also attracted Jacqueline Kennedy. Shortly after, Jackie chose an ivory lace dress from this series for her wedding to Aristotle Onassis, an image that traveled the world and sealed Valentino’s status as the designer of modern aristocracy.

4. The Empire of the “Valentino Girls”

During the 1970s and 1980s, Valentino did not just design clothes; he designed a lifestyle. He surrounded himself with a court of muses and friends who embodied his aesthetic ideal, from Naty Abascal to Sophia Loren and Elizabeth Taylor. Valentino understood that fashion was also about public relations and social presence. His parties at the Château de Wideville and his vacations aboard the yacht T.M. Blue One defined the Jet Set era, turning the brand into a synonym for cosmopolitan, aspirational elegance.

5. Julia Roberts and Vintage at the Oscars

At the 2001 Academy Awards, Julia Roberts accepted her Oscar for Erin Brockovich wearing a black velvet dress with white straps from Valentino’s 1992 Haute Couture collection. This moment was historic for two reasons: first, Julia broke with the tradition of debuting current designs, launching the vintage trend on the red carpet; and second, Valentino himself later confessed that seeing that dress on stage was one of the most emotional moments of his career.

6. The Final Runway Show: A Red-Tinged Farewell

The true closing of the Garavani era took place in January 2008, during Paris Haute Couture Week. For his final collection Spring/Summer 2008, Valentino did not seek reinvention, but rather a reaffirmation of his legacy: an ode to absolute femininity, defined by perfect draping, delicate bows, and timeless elegance.

The most emotional moment of his career unfolded during the final walk, when dozens of models appeared wearing variations of the iconic “Valentino Red,” as the designer said goodbye through tears beneath a standing ovation that seemed endless. This farewell to the runway was preceded by a majestic celebration in Rome, where Valentino commemorated his career surrounded by the history and splendor of the Eternal City.

7. A Living Legacy: From Red to Pink PP

Although Valentino retired from active design in 2008, his shadow remained long and protective. The appointment of Pierpaolo Piccioli ensured that the house’s codes — craftsmanship, volume, and romance — stayed alive for a new generation. The transition from iconic red to the bold “Pink PP” of recent years was seen by Valentino himself as a triumph of creativity over monotony. Until his final days, Valentino remained a present figure, a silent mentor reminding the world that “design is nothing without the emotion of the person who wears it”.

Valentino Garavani did not simply create dresses; he sculpted an ideal of beauty that will outlive trends. His passing marks the end of an era in which fashion was, above all, an act of courtesy toward the female body. Today, the world dresses in mourning, but deep inside every gala wardrobe, that shade of red will always shine, reminding us that elegance is eternal.

As he used to say: “I know what women want. They want to be beautiful”. And no one ever made them feel more beautiful than he did.

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