How Did Valentino Garavani Die? What Happened to the Legendary Italian Fashion Designer

The global fashion community entered 2026 in mourning following the death of legendary Italian designer Valentino Garavani, whose name became synonymous with timeless elegance and the iconic “Valentino red.” The celebrated couturier passed away at the age of 93, a development confirmed through an official statement shared on his Instagram account and by the Fondazione Valentino Garavani e Giancarlo Giammetti.

Despite widespread public interest, no official medical cause of death has been disclosed. The statement clarified that Valentino passed away peacefully at his residence in Rome. Given his advanced age, many online users have speculated that his death was due to natural causes; however, no formal confirmation has been issued.

After retiring from the fashion world in 2007, Valentino largely withdrew from public life, choosing to live quietly in Rome with his longtime partner, Bruce Hoeksema. According to sources close to the fashion house, his passing was calm and dignified, bringing an end to a remarkable life devoted to refinement, creativity, and couture excellence.

A public lying-in-state will take place at PM23, Piazza Mignanelli 23, Rome, on January 21 and 22, 2026, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. His funeral service is scheduled for January 23, 2026, at 11 a.m. at the Basilica Santa Maria degli Angeli e dei Martiri in Piazza della Repubblica. Leading figures from the fashion industry, including Pierpaolo Piccioli, have publicly expressed their grief and paid tribute to the designer’s legacy.

According to the Fondazione Valentino Garavani e Giancarlo Giammetti, the designer spent his final moments at home, surrounded by loved ones, in accordance with his long-held desire for privacy. His death comes nearly two decades after his emotional farewell to fashion, when he told The New York Times in 2007:

“As the English say, I would like to leave the party when it is still full.”

Born in 1932 in Voghera, Italy, Valentino studied fashion in Paris at the École des Beaux-Arts and the Chambre Syndicale de la Couture Parisienne before training under Jacques Fath and Cristóbal Balenciaga. He later founded his own label in Rome, achieving international acclaim after Jacqueline Kennedy became one of his most devoted clients.

Over the decades, Valentino’s designs became staples of Hollywood glamour, worn by stars such as Nicole Kidman, Anne Hathaway, Jennifer Aniston, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Elizabeth Hurley. His influence extended beyond the runway through appearances in The Devil Wears Prada and the acclaimed documentary Valentino: The Last Emperor. Reflecting his philosophy in the film, he famously said:

“I know what women want. They want to be beautiful.”

Valentino Garavani leaves behind an unparalleled legacy that reshaped haute couture and defined elegance for generations.