A Look Back At Valentino Garavani’s Most Iconic Fashion Moments

Italian fashion legend Valentino Garavani, the master of elegance whose ultra-glamorous gowns dressed generations of the world’s most famous women, has died at 93, according to his foundation. In a statement shared on Instagram, the Valentino Garavani and Giancarlo Giammetti Foundation said the designer “peacefully passed away” at his residence in Rome, surrounded by his family. With his passing, fashion is looking back at the unmistakable gowns that made Valentino Garavani a legend.

Valentino Garavani didn’t just use red. He turned it into a signature so recognizable it became fashion shorthand. What we now call “Valentino Red” traces back to Spring/Summer 1959, when he introduced his very first red dress, “La Fiesta," a strapless, mid-length tulle party dress in a vivid, high-impact shade that quickly became a breakout moment for the brand and helped put Valentino on the map. From there, the color evolved into a saturated, glamorous evening red.

For Valentino, that obsession started long before the runway. As a teenager attending the opera in Barcelona with his father, he had an epiphany while watching Bizet’s Carmen. He later described the scene as a wash of red, from the costumes to the theater itself, and said it made him realize, “after black and white, there was no finer color.”

He was especially captivated by one woman in the audience, dressed in red velvet, who stood apart from everyone else. That moment stuck, seeing how red could command a room, not loud, just undeniable, became the spark behind a decades-long love affair that would define Valentino’s legacy one red gown at a time.

Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis helped turn Valentino into a household name in American fashion history when she chose him for one of the most photographed moments of her life, her 1968 wedding to Aristotle Onassis. Rather than going ultra-traditional with a sweeping bridal gown, Jackie opted for a chic, modern knee-length Valentino dress.

After that, his designs weren’t just admired on runways or in elite circles as they were cemented into the cultural conversation, solidifying his reputation as the go-to for women who wanted elegance, power, and timeless glamour in one look.

Julia Roberts delivered one of the most unforgettable red-carpet fashion moments of the modern era when she stepped out at the 2001 Academy Awards in a black-and-white Valentino gown. The look was striking in its simplicity, and it stood out in a sea of sparkle because it didn’t need anything extra to make a statement. Over time, it’s become one of those reference looks that fashion fans bring up again and again.

Zendaya gave Valentino red a modern, main-character moment when she stepped out in a custom scarlet Valentino gown for HBO’s Emmys after-party at San Vicente Bungalows in West Hollywood on September 12, 2022. Wearing the dress, she marked a significant milestone, becoming the first Black woman to take home Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series twice, and the youngest performer to win two acting Emmys, achieving the feat at 26.

Lady Gaga brought high fashion to the sidewalk in New York when she stepped out in a head-turning look from Valentino’s Fall 2021 Haute Couture collection. Spotted leaving rehearsal at Radio City Music Hall on July 31, 2021, Gaga wore a dramatic, sculptural cape-style mini dress in a rich violet tone, a runway piece that instantly turned Midtown into her personal catwalk.

Nicole Kidman delivered a show-stopping couture moment when she arrived at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival in Valentino Spring 2013 Haute Couture for the “Nebraska” premiere on May 23, 2013. The Valentino gown was an ivory/off-white, sleeveless, high-neck lace dress embellished with a delicate floral lace overlay, giving it a romantic feel. The silhouette was clean, letting the intricate lacework do the talking rather than relying on heavy embellishment.

Jennifer Lopez went full fashion-week bombshell in Valentino when she attended the brand’s Spring 2024 Haute Couture show during Paris Couture Week in Paris on January 24, 2024. For the front-row moment, she slipped into a statement Valentino bow dress, delivering a camera-ready glamour. The fitted black dress featured cutout detailing on the sleeves, lined with crystal embellishments. The “bow” statement came from silver, crystal-like bow accents at the shoulders.

From Jackie Kennedy Onassis to modern-day A-listers, his designs weren’t just worn, but they were moments.