Valentino Garavani, one of the leading fashion designers of his generation, died on Monday at the age of 93.
His death was announced by his foundation in a post on Instagram.
“Valentino Garavani passed away today at his Roman residence, surrounded by his loved ones,” the foundation wrote.
Valentino was known as "the emperor" and for the use of red as his signature colour in dresses included in all of his collections from the time he was introduced to the fashion world in 1959.
"I think a woman dressed in red is always wonderful, she is the perfect image of a heroine," he wrote in the book "Rosso" (Red) published in 2022.
He designed the wedding gown worn by Elizabeth Taylor at her eighth wedding in 1991 and dressed movie stars like Sharon Stone and Penelope Cruz, along with former American first lady Jackie Kennedy.
An only child born into a wealthy family in Voghera, where his father ran an electrical supplies company, he developed a love of fashion from a young age, studying haute couture in Milan and Paris, where he worked for designer Jean Dessès.
Valentino opened his own fashion house in Rome in 1960, designing a gown that Elizabeth Taylor wore at the premiere of the film "Spartacus" the same year, and eventually selling his business in 2008 before retiring.
The business that bears his name was bought by Qatari fund Mayhoola for 700 million euros (US$815 million) in 2012 with French luxury group Kering taking a 30% stake in 2023.
