Designer Valentino Garavani at his apartment on New York's Upper East Side in 1977. The colour, introduced to the fashion world several years later, in 1959, with a strapless cocktail dress of draped tulle, has carried his name – “Valentino red” – ever since, doubling as the eponymous Italian fashion ‍group’s signature. Valentino, the Italian fashion designer who built one of the country’s most celebrated luxury houses and was known in the industry as “the emperor”, died on Monday at his home in Rome, his foundation said. “Fame and fortune didn’t change him,” Mr Giammetti said at the time. Valentino and Mr Giammetti remained active in supporting the arts.

Source: The Irish Times January 19, 2026 18:46 UTC