ROME, Italy — Peers, admirers and leading figures from the global fashion industry gathered in central Rome on Friday, January 23, 2026, to pay their final respects to the Italian designer Valentino Garavani at his funeral.
The ceremony was held at the Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli e dei Martiri, a 16th-century church designed by Michelangelo, where the designer’s coffin was brought for the service.
Italian fashion designer Valentino celebrates an exhibition at the Ara Pacis Museum in Rome in 2007. | Getty Images
Lying in State and Funeral Procession
Since Wednesday, Valentino, who was widely known by his first name, had been lying in state at PM23, an arts and culture exhibition space opened by the Fondazione Valentino Garavani in 2025.
At the venue, his coffin rested beneath an elaborate arrangement of white flowers and an opulent chandelier, set against whitewashed walls. On the day of the funeral, pallbearers carried the coffin from the exhibition space to the basilica for the ceremony.
Giancarlo Giammetti, the co-founder of the Valentino fashion house and the designer’s long-time partner, arrived for the service alongside other close associates and industry figures.
The funeral was open to the public, and members of the public queued outside the church throughout the morning. Some wore red clothing or carried red accessories, a reference to the designer’s signature shade.
White floral wreaths were brought into the basilica, and one fan outside held a black poster reading, “Goodbye Valentino. The last emperor of fashion.”
Industry Figures and Public Figures in Attendance
Among those present were Anne Hathaway and Olivia Palermo, who frequently wore Valentino’s designs on red carpets.
Alessandro Michele, the current creative director of the brand, attended wearing dark sunglasses. Donatella Versace arrived in a fitted black dress with sculptural sleeves.
Pierpaolo Piccioli, who served as creative director of the Valentino brand from 2008 until 2024, entered the church alongside François-Henri Pinault, the chairman of Kering, the parent company of Gucci, Saint Laurent, Bottega Veneta and Balenciaga.
Also in attendance were Maria Grazia Chiuri of Fendi, who previously worked at Valentino, the American designer Tom Ford, the fashion journalist Suzy Menkes and Anna Wintour.
Ms. Wintour arrived wearing a fur stole and layered jewel necklaces. The ceremonial capes worn by Carabinieri guards were designed by Armani.
Legacy in Fashion
Valentino Garavani built an international reputation for glamorous, elegant and highly recognisable designs. His gowns were regularly worn by leading actresses on major red carpets.
Jessica Lange, Sophia Loren, Julia Roberts and Cate Blanchett each received Academy Awards while wearing Valentino dresses. The label became known among some performers as an unofficial good-luck charm.
“I know what women want,” Valentino once told a reporter. “They want to be beautiful.”
In a 2008 documentary about his career, when asked who could succeed him, he replied in Italian: “After me, the flood.”
The designer retired from active work at his namesake brand in 2008 but remained an influential figure in fashion.
His funeral marked a rare public gathering of several generations of designers, editors and industry leaders, reflecting his lasting presence in international fashion.
