The Fashion Industry and the World React to Valentino’s Death

The news of Valentino Garavani’s death came at the tail end of Milan Men’s Fashion Week and memories and thoughts about the couturier, his legacy and his persona came pouring in.

Here is what the industry and the world at large said:

Designers

Alessandro Michele, creative director of Valentino: “I am immensely saddened. An extraordinary man passed away today. Valentino Garavani was not only an undisputed protagonist of fashion, but a central figure in Italian cultural history, capable of transforming a craft into a language, an artisanal gesture into a vision of the world.

“Valentino knew how to sculpt desire and dress it with lightness, he taught that elegance is a discipline one must remain faithful to throughout one’s life. He was able to push the boundaries of possibility, crossing the world with a rare delicacy, a silent rigor and a boundless love for beauty. He will be deeply missed by all those he worked with, by those who loved him, by those who learned by watching him, even from afar.

“He leaves a profound legacy behind: the idea that creating means caring, that beauty is radical and patient attention to bodies, to shapes, and to the time that passes through and preserves them. Death, perhaps, is not just an end. It is the moment when a presence ceases to belong to the time of action and becomes the responsibility of those who remain. It does not erase what has been, but rather hands it over to the future, asking to be remembered not as an immobile memory, but as a force that continues to act, to orient, to question our lives. If, as a poet said, “to love means to continue another’s discourse,” then our task is to accept this debt of love, to preserve that discourse that precedes us, to keep it alive in the time given to us, so that it continues to speak in the gestures we make and in the way we inhabit the world. In this moment, as I work, I strongly feel how his gaze continues to accompany ours. As a measure, as a responsibility, as a promise of possible grace.”
 
Pierpaolo Piccioli: “I say goodbye to a master, a mentor and a profoundly generous spirit. He taught me that fashion is joy, a serious and demanding joy, and that beauty is not decoration but a refuge, a form of protection against the world. His guidance shaped not only my work, but the way I see and inhabit creativity. His presence will be deeply missed, yet what he gave us remains: in memory, in love and in the elegance of ideas that will continue to live on. My deepest condolences go to his family, and to Giancarlo, whose love protected him, sheltering him from the harshness of the world, and allowing his gentleness and vision to remain intact.”

Maria Grazia Chiuri: “‘Après moi le déluge.’ With him, an irreplaceable time comes to an end. I will always carry with me what he taught me. With infinite gratitude.”

Donatella Versace: “Today we lost a true Maestro. I will never forget Valentino. He and Giancarlo were immediately by my side after I and the rest of the world found out about the tragic death of my brother [Gianni]. They gave me their unwavering support and friendship at such a difficult time. He will forever have a very special place in my heart.”

The Armani Company: “The Armani family and Leo Dell’Orco express their condolences for the passing of Valentino and join Giancarlo Giammetti and his loved ones in their grief. An undisputed master of grace and elegance, for whom Giorgio Armani always held the utmost respect, Valentino embodied the excellence of couture, the precision of craftsmanship and a unique vision of fashion defined by pure lines, iconic colors and absolute beauty. His passing leaves an immense void.”

Ralph Lauren: “We all knew him by his first name — Valentino, a romantic name he lived up to through the artfulness of the collections he designed and the passion for beauty that inspired him for so many decades. He said that women wanted to be ‘beautiful’ and that was his inspiration throughout his life. He was an icon in the world of fashion, and beyond, but more than that he was a man that loved life, his family and friends that will miss him, but whose memory will live on through the timeless beauty of the world he created.”

Miuccia Prada and Patrizio Bertelli: “We remember Valentino Garavani with deep respect for his creativity and sense of elegance. Today, we lose an important voice — a true representative of Italian fashion on the global stage.”

Raf Simons: “Valentino Garavani was a true innovator, presenting haute couture with unparalleled vision and refinement on the international stage. His creativity and elegance have made a profound contribution to the global appreciation of Italian fashion.”

Matthieu Blazy, creative director of Chanel: “Valentino Garavani approached fashion like a baroque architect. He was an extraordinary colorist, an artist, a poet. From the most extravagant dress to the simplest blouse, the creations he dreamed of always served women, as much on the red carpet as in their everyday lives.”

Brunello Cucinelli: “To our extraordinary Valentino, a brilliant artist who always cherished work, beauty and refinement; one of the enduring symbols of 20th-century Italian fashion, to whom we owe our deepest homage. May Creation itself welcome him in his great splendor.”

Diane von Furstenberg: “I was very friendly with him. I first met him with Marisa Berenson in Capri. He was a perfectionist and was meticulous about everything. He loved beauty and he loved his house and how to decorate the tables. He has a great family. He and Giancarlo always had friends around them, and the friends became family. Giancarlo was the most wonderful partner to him.”

Alberta Ferretti: “Farewell, dear Valentino. You taught us that beauty can be gentle, and elegance eternal. Your vision moved like a dream through fabric and light, leaving behind grace, silence and wonder. You will forever walk among us, where art becomes emotion and fashion becomes poetry.”

Willy Chavarria: “The fashion world will be quieter with the passing of Valentino Garavani. He understood that beauty is not decoration, but devotion born from love. Valentino dressed people as if honoring their inner lives. His legacy is not only what we saw, but what we felt.”

Lorenzo Serafini, creative director of Alberta Ferretti: “Valentino was a forever reference of my dreams. He shaped my teenage imagination and defined what elegance could mean to me. Someone I always admired — not only for what he created, but for the way he made dreaming feel possible.”

Dean and Dan Caten: “Valentino Garavani shaped fashion for generations and defined an enduring idea of beauty. His vision, elegance and fearless creativity will live on forever.”

Antonio Marras: “Valentino did not just dress women; he gave shape to their most secret dreams, coloring the world with a red that is not just a color, but a heartbeat, a pure emotion, an indelible mark in history. Today we all feel a little more naked, a little less enchanted. His designs will remain eternal, as do his skilled hands that knew how to stop time. We bid him farewell with the melancholy of children watching their elegant father depart, but grateful for teaching us that the only way to be eternal is to seek absolute harmony, without ceasing.”

Giambattista Valli: “I feel a little bit orphaned because it was like [he] was always next to me, from my childhood to my teenage moments. [It’s like the loss of] a spiritual parent. I always used to say to him it [was his] fault if I’m doing this job and it made him laugh. I grew up in Rome so I started to create dreams in my mind thanks to him and then, in my teenage years [developed] my vision of beauty through his vision — without working with him. [He loved] this Valentino family that was always surrounding him — so faithful to him and he so faithful to all of them. Such a beautiful image and such a beautiful inspiration to all of us.”

Tom Ford: “I am absolutely stricken with grief. Valentino was not only one of the greatest designers of his generation who influenced fashion for decades, but he was a close and true friend for many years. I am grateful not only to have known him, but to have many memories of our time together. It is a sad day not only for fashion, but for all of those who knew him.”

Kris Van Assche: “Mr. Valentino stood as an example, a hero — proving that beauty, when rooted in cut, discipline and emotion, never becomes old-fashioned. He embodied old-world beauty, yet reminded us that elegance is not nostalgia, but a form of courage.”

Laura Lusuardi, fashion director of Max Mara: “Valentino Garavani was a great couturier who contributed to spread Italian beauty and craftsmanship throughout the world. His creativity was synonymous with elegance and femininity. Valentino will remain an icon and a master for new generations.”

Lavinia Biagiotti Cigna, president and chief executive officer of Biagiotti Group: “With Valentino, I’m not just losing a great friend but a legendary master who could turn shapes into pure beauty, gestures into emotions and elegance into a universal language. From him, I learned that grace is a daily choice, an act of discipline and love, the result of a discerning gaze, and a profoundly kind soul. Dear Valentino, thank you for your friendship and for making our time infinitely more beautiful. With love, Lavinia.”

Marco De Vincenzo, creative director of Etro: “I took my first trip to Rome when I was 14, to deliver a letter to Mr. Valentino, in which I was applying for [a role] as his apprentice. It was premature, I know, but dreams begin at that age, and I had decided to hand him mine. Many things have happened ever since, and I never worked for Valentino, but thanks to the power of his name, I’ve never stopped dreaming even for a second.”

Giuliano Calza, founder and creative director of GCDS: “For me, it all started with a pug on a tennis skirt my mum cherished the most. Later on, I discovered that Valentino created an entire world made of elegance, beauty and joy. A world that will continue to inspire generations of creatives. A fantasy so pure, so precise, that it will never be surpassed. Perfection, once achieved, does not need to be repeated.”

Vera Wang: “To my dear friend…Valentino, a true designer and the ultimate influencer. Your love for women and beauty never wavered nor your talent and generosity. I will personally miss you enormously and your unabashed sense of glamour and style! RIP. XXV”

Executives

Bernard Arnault, chairman and CEO of LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton: “He was the creator of a refined, radiant and sumptuous fashion, defined by generous draping, which he inseparably wove together with cinema. Trained in Paris in his youth, Valentino was an tireless champion of haute couture craftsmanship and a great friend of France.”

Carlo Capasa, chairman of Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana: “Valentino Garavani was a creator of timeless beauty and elegance. His fashion spanned eras, cultures, generations and languages, inspiring dreams, visions and a profound sense of excellence. His creations became symbols of style and glamour, worn by the protagonists of history and by central figures of international cultural life. His aesthetic, coherent and rigorous, never chased trends, but was able to unite artisanal heritage and modernity, contributing decisively to the global recognition of Italian fashion. Through his journey, he elevated haute couture to a cultural heritage of our country, leaving a profound legacy for the entire system.”

Bruno Pavlovsky, president of the Fédération de la Haute Couture et de la Mode: “Throughout his career, Valentino Garavani united technical mastery with creative audacity. His Roman ateliers became a place of ongoing transmission where he trained generations of artisans in the most exacting and precise techniques of the craft. These savoir-faire, perpetuated by those he mentored in his ateliers, form a vital legacy for the future of Couture.”

Pascal Morand, executive president of the Fédération de la Haute Couture et de la Mode: “Trained in Paris at the Ecole de la Chambre Syndicale de la Couture Parisienne, Valentino Garavani has always had a strong connection with the Parisian scene, which he has honored with his fashion shows during Paris Fashion Week and Haute Couture Week since 1989. He has thus fostered a creative dialogue of great aesthetic depth between Rome and Paris, between Italy and France, while establishing his work in the global cultural arena at an exceptional level.” 

Gildo Zegna, executive chairman of the Ermenegildo Zegna Group: “I am deeply saddened. Valentino Garavani was a true example of elegance. His extraordinary creativity played a significant role in strengthening the global standing of Made in Italy. His vision, his refined sense of style, and his creative discipline will continue to inspire the luxury industry for generations to come.”

Luca de Meo, CEO of Kering: “It is with deep emotion that I learn of the passing of Valentino Garavani. An exceptional creator and a major figure of Italian haute couture, he embodied a sense of style that has profoundly shaped our collective imagination. Valentino elevated elegance into a universal language, blending tradition and audacity with rare precision. His legacy remains one of the strongest expressions of Italian culture. My thoughts are with his family, his loved ones and especially with Giancarlo Giammetti. His spirit will continue to live on through the house that bears his name.”

Marco Bizzarri: “Mr. Valentino is a beacon of Italian elegance — a master whose creativity and humanity touched generations. His legacy will live on through the extraordinary house he built and the people he inspired. My thoughts and deepest condolences are with Giancarlo and the entire Valentino family. We will all miss him profoundly.”

Matteo Marzotto, whose family company acquired the Valentino brand in 2002: “It’s a piece of history and of my life that is over. He was a real couturier, a man of extraordinary sensibility. He was serially inspired, he would sketch all the time. He was inspired by his trips around the world and would draw on pieces of paper and put them in his pockets, then once home reinterpret them.”

Leonardo Ferragamo, chairman at Salvatore Ferragamo: “The world and Italy will tribute Valentino forever as one of the true masters of elegance. He was a visionary who elevated fashion to a universal language of beauty, discipline and poetry. His legacy has shaped generations of designers and played a fundamental role in defining the global style, creativity and prestige of Italy all over the globe.”

Michele Norsa, former Valentino CEO: “Valentino was an incomparable maestro of style and elegance. Around him, all seemed perfect and almost unreal. His homes, his gardens, the most beautiful women and the dreamy dresses.”

Cyril Chapuy, president of L’Oréal Luxe, which holds the Valentino beauty license: “Mr. Valentino Garavani was more than a couturier; he was a creative genius who redefined glamour. His daring spirit and passion for color will continue to live on through our beauty creations that remain forever infused with the timeless soul of Rome.”

Domenico De Sole: “He was a gentleman, and one of the truly great designers of his generation alongside Giorgio Armani, Karl Lagerfeld and Yves Saint Laurent. He was one of the greatest, and a real star.”

British Fashion Council: “We are saddened to learn of the passing of designer Valentino Garavani, the visionary founder and former creative director of Valentino. Over the course of nearly five decades, Mr. Valentino shaped the world of fashion with unparalleled elegance, and in 2023, he was honored with Outstanding Achievement Award at The Fashion Awards, celebrating a legacy that continues to inspire designers, models, artisans and audiences globally. His couture, worn across the world’s most memorable catwalks and red carpets, redefined glamour and set new standards for craftsmanship. Our thoughts are with his family and friends.”

Celebrities

Colman Domingo, on Instagram: “Thank you Mr. Valentino for inspiring so many to be beautiful. To quote: ‘There are only three things I can do: make a dress, decorate a house and entertain people.’ This man lived a life to make beautiful things and to make us all feel like we are living in a fantasy that becomes ones reality. I am most proud of my ambassadorship with Maison Valentino because of his story. A life well lived.”

Olivia Palermo: “I not only lost one of my dearest friends — my heart is with Giancarlo, Bruce and the Garavani family — but the world lost an incomparable visionary. His lifetime of work forever changed how we see beauty, elegance and femininity. Through couture, ready-to-wear and an unmistakable visual language, he set the foundation generations of designers continue to build upon. I will miss his warmth, his humor, his kindness and his ability to make a woman feel truly beautiful. The world touches a piece of Valentino every day — something I will always hold close, along with my memories of him and the guidance he gave me.”

Elizabeth Saltzman, stylist: “Valentino dressed women with elegance, extreme knowledge and creativity — his clothes were never boring. He started with a proper sketch, he traveled, he researched — and was interested in so much. He understood his customers’ world. He was the definition of elegance, quality, longevity and beauty — it was always about beauty. I will miss the beauty.”

Gwyneth Paltrow: “I was so lucky to know and love Valentino — to know the real man, in private. The man who was in love with beauty, his family, his muses, his friends, his dogs, his gardens and a good Hollywood story. I loved him so much. I loved how he always pestered me to ‘at least wear a little mascara’ when I came to dinner. I loved his naughty laugh. This feels like the end of an era. He will be deeply missed by me and all who loved him. Rest in peace, Vava.”

Claudia Schiffer: “Heartbroken to hear of the passing of my old friend Valentino. He is what true legends are made of, living on forever through the brand he created, the embodiment of timeless elegance and glamour. I loved the special times where I got to bring his creations to life on and off the runway. One of my favorite campaigns was in Rome where I became Anita Ekberg in ‘La Dolce Vita,’ a memory I will cherish forever. I will remember the fun holidays l spent with him in Mallorca, Ibiza and Saint-Tropez. My Valentino wedding gown, which I have framed at home, is a constant reminder of his gentle, generous, sweet and loyal nature. Having him create my wedding gown was one of the great honors of my life, a moment I will cherish forever. I feel so proud to have been a part of his life. Repose en paix, Monsieur Valentino.” 

Cindy Crawford: “I’m heartbroken to hear of Valentino Garavani’s passing. He was a true master of his craft, and I will always be grateful for the years I had the privilege of working closely with him.”

Carla Bruni: “I am deeply moved by the passing of the great Valentino, who leaves behind so much beauty for the world. He was a master, and it was an honor and a great privilege to know him and walk for him. I will always remember his immense kindness and infinite elegance. My thoughts are with Giancarlo Giammetti and the entire Valentino family. Rest in peace.”

Matt Tyrnauer, filmmaker of “Valentino: The Last Emperor”: “Valentino really stands out as one of its greatest practitioners and defining talent and icon and trailblazer of his time. At the time I made the film, people referred to him as the greatest dressmaker of all time, which was a compliment that meant that he made clothes that you could wear. And he really cared about how women looked and felt and wanted to feel. Whereas a lot of other people who were in the generation behind him were being more artistic, if not innovative. I think that legacy holds up. But I would say that from this perspective, he and Giancarlo Giammetti really transformed the industry and deserve a lot of credit for making fashion global.”

Coco Rocha: “Today fashion lost another giant of our industry, and a true gentleman. I was lucky to know Valentino, not just as the iconic Roman couturier, but as a warm, generous presence who shaped fashion with grace, discipline, and beauty. His legacy lives on in the restraint, elegance and conviction that defined both the man and his work.”

Retailers

Mariella Elia, managing director at Rinascente: “With the death of Valentino Garavani, an absolute master of style disappears, who transformed elegance into a universal language. But his red will remain immortal.”

Geoffroy van Raemdonck, CEO at Saks Global: “Valentino Garavani was one of the architects of true elegance and Italian Haute Couture. His vision, discipline and unwavering commitment to beauty shaped fashion in ways that will endure forever. With his trusted partner, Giancarlo Giammetti, they built an extraordinary luxury house with whom we have been privileged to share a decades-long relationship. Beyond our professional partnership, I was fortunate to know Valentino personally, and to experience firsthand the grace, generosity and humanity that matched his creative genius. His legacy will remain inseparable from the history of fashion. Valentino will be deeply missed. On behalf of Saks Global, we extend our deepest sympathies to his family, friends and all who had the honor of knowing him.”

Simon Longland, director of buying, fashion at Harrods: “Valentino Garavani was one of the last true titans of fashion. Established more than 60 years ago, he built his maison to embody glamour, elegance and an unmistakably ultra-feminine sensibility, redefining the way women dressed for both day and evening. His extraordinary archive remains a rich and enduring source of inspiration, and few designers can claim something so singular as a color of their own — yet ‘Valentino Red’ stands as one of the most iconic signatures in the history of fashion. Valentino has always held a profoundly important place within Harrods, through long-standing collaborations and a deep connection with our clients and our teams. At this moment, we stand close to his family, to Mr. Giancarlo Giammetti, and to the entire Valentino Maison, honoring a legacy that will continue to define beauty, femininity and elegance for generations to come.” 

Judd Crane, executive director, buying and brand at Selfridges: “We are much inspired by Valentino’s words, ‘Fashion is about dreaming and making other people dream.’ He was a legendary designer, master couturier and emperor of elegance.”

Andrew Burnstine, associate professor at Lynn University and former executive vice president of Martha Inc.: “The bond between Martha Phillips, Lynn Manulis, and Valentino spanned for more than 40 years, but it was far more than a business arrangement. Martha was truly a second mother to those two young men.”

Phillips opened the first Valentino boutique in Palm Beach and would often demand changes to one of his designs to get an exclusive version. “He leaves behind a legacy of unmatched beauty, but the most enduring part of it all was that simple, 40-year promise he made whenever Martha asked for the impossible. He would just smile and say, ‘Yes, Martha, only for you.’”