Rome Bids Farewell to the “Last Emperor”: A Final Tribute to Valentino

The Eternal City has fallen into a state of elegant mourning as it opens a two-day public viewing for the legendary Valentino Garavani. The designer, who defined 20th-century glamour and dressed the world’s most iconic women, passed away Monday at the age of 93.

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The City Honors Its Icon

Valentino’s headquarters at Piazza Mignanelli, located just a stone’s throw from the Spanish Steps, has been transformed into a place of pilgrimage. Fans, fellow designers, and the Roman public are lining the historic streets to pay their final respects to the man who made “Valentino Red” a global symbol of power and femininity.

• The Public Tribute: The viewing continues through Thursday, January 22, allowing the public a moment of reflection before the private funeral proceedings begin.
• The Funeral: A solemn service is scheduled for Friday, January 23, at the Basilica di Santa Maria degli Angeli e dei Martiri, a venue as grand and historic as the designer’s own legacy.

An Unmatched Legacy

Valentino was more than a couturier; he was a cultural titan. His career was defined by a relentless pursuit of beauty, famously stating, “I know what women want. They want to be beautiful.”

From the “White Collection” that dressed Jackie Kennedy for her wedding to Aristotle Onassis, to the scarlet gowns that became a staple of the Academy Awards, his work bridged the gap between old-world aristocracy and modern Hollywood.

“He didn’t just make clothes; he created a standard of grace that the world may never see again.” — Reflections from the fashion community.

The End of an Era

While Valentino officially retired from his label in 2008, his presence remained a guiding light for the industry. His death marks the closing chapter of the “Golden Age” of Italian Haute Couture—a time when Rome was the undisputed center of the fashion universe.