Valentino Garavani, who passed away at his Rome residence on Monday at the age of 93, was honored on Friday by Anne Hathaway, Elizabeth Hurley, Tom Ford, Anna Wintour, and Donatella Versace, among other luminaries from the worlds of film and fashion.
Alessandro Michele, serving as Valentino’s creative director, joined mourners at the ceremony.
Hathaway attended alongside her husband, Adam Schulman, while Hurley was accompanied by her son, Damian Hurley. Models Claudia Schiffer and Natalia Vodianova, plus British fashion journalist Suzy Menkes, also traveled to Rome.
Valentino’s brand is a favorite on the red carpet for stars like Julia Roberts, Florence Pugh, Cate Blanchett, Zendaya, Elle Fanning, and Dakota Johnson. Valentino Garavani is one of the world’s most famous fashion designers.
In 2006, Valentino, known as the iconic fashion mogul, appeared as himself in the hit film The Devil Wears Prada alongside Hathaway.
In 2008, Valentino retired from active design, marking his farewell with an emotional final haute couture show in Paris attended by leading figures from fashion, film, and society. Pierpaolo Piccioli went on to lead the Valentino brand from 2008 until 2024.
Born in Italy in 1932, he developed a love for fashion at a young age. After studying in Paris, he built his own brand and founded Valentino in 1960, which soon became a global symbol of high fashion. His designs were worn by famous women such as Jackie Kennedy, Elizabeth Taylor, Sophia Loren, and Princess Diana.
Valentino received many awards throughout his career. He won several international fashion honors and lifetime achievement awards. In 2006, he received the Legion of Honour from France, one of the country’s highest civilian awards. This recognized his lasting influence on global fashion. Beyond fashion, Valentino is also known for his love of art, architecture, and philanthropy.