Rome Bids Farewell to Fashion Legend Valentino Garavani
Mourners gathered in Rome on Wednesday to pay their final respects to the iconic Italian designer Valentino Garavani, whose coffin was placed on public display following his death at the age of 93 earlier this week. The somber yet elegant tribute took place at the headquarters of the Valentino Garavani and Giancarlo Giammetti Foundation, located in the historic heart of the city.
A Simple and Sober Homage
The entrance to the simple room was adorned with rows of pristine white roses and lilies, creating a serene pathway for visitors. Inside, a wooden coffin was laid out, flanked by loved ones who sat quietly on either side. Giulia Carraro, a 75-year-old former personal assistant who was part of Valentino's inner circle, described the scene as a "perfect, simple, sober homage" not only to a talented artist but also to a "courteous, splendidly refined" individual.
Legacy of Dressing the World's Most Famous Women
Valentino, who founded his eponymous fashion house in 1960, was renowned for dressing some of the most iconic women in history. His clientele included:
- Julia Roberts
- Sharon Stone
- Elizabeth Taylor
- Nancy Reagan
Next to the closed coffin, which was topped with a single red rose, sat his longtime partner Giancarlo Giammetti. Giammetti's business acumen played a crucial role in elevating the Valentino label to global prominence. Also in attendance was Alessandro Michele, the brand's creative director, who had previously paid tribute to Valentino's "rare sensibility." The emotional gathering even included a mourner holding one of Valentino's beloved pugs, adding a personal touch to the proceedings.
The Signature "Valentino Red"
Although Valentino had a profound love for white, he became perhaps best known for his stunning gowns in a vivid hue famously dubbed "Valentino red." Carraro explained to AFP that this distinctive color was "a red with the lightest touch of orange and magenta," inspired by the designer's encounter with a woman in a red dress at an opera in Barcelona. He used her as his muse, transforming that moment into a timeless fashion statement.
Personal Tributes from Admirers
Among the mourners was Maotzin Contreras-Bejarano in Marchesi, who traveled from Mexico and dressed entirely in black but with her lips painted in the iconic Valentino red. She expressed her deep admiration, stating, "I really wanted to be here, I had to be here." She reflected that Valentino "didn't just create things, he was beauty, he was love, he was passion" and represented an era where fashion was made "with heart and soul." She lamented that his passing marks the loss of qualities the modern fashion world has largely abandoned in favor of pure business.
Display and Funeral Arrangements
The coffin will remain on display for two days at the Foundation, allowing the public to pay their respects. This precedes a church funeral scheduled for Friday in Rome. Seamstresses from the adjacent Valentino atelier joined the hundreds of mourners, while the windows of the Valentino shop were covered with blackout blinds. Emblazoned across these blinds in white letters was the designer's personal motto: "I love beauty. It's not my fault."
A Broader Context of Italian Fashion Loss
Valentino's death follows closely on the heels of another great loss in Italian fashion, the passing of Giorgio Armani just months earlier. Among the floral tributes left outside the Foundation was a poignant note suggesting that the two legends would now be "designing clothes for angels."
Heartfelt Journeys to Pay Respects
Silvia Bocchino, 55, took a day off work and traveled to Rome, feeling a strong "duty" to honor the designer. She shared, "Valentino has always been a legend to me, a role model. I was born in the 70s and witnessed his rise." Bocchino owns a few pieces by Valentino, purchased primarily "to have the feeling of touching beauty." She emphasized that Valentino "left an imprint on what it means to be Italian, on how we are known in the world," underscoring his enduring cultural impact.
