Valentino’s Legacy Was About Respecting Women, Says Longtime Partner Giancarlo Giammetti

The legacy of legendary Italian designer Valentino Garavani lies in his deep respect for women and his belief that fashion should celebrate, not overshadow, them, according to his longtime partner Giancarlo Giammetti.

Speaking outside the Valentino headquarters in Rome following the designer’s death at the age of 93, Giammetti said Valentino always viewed clothing as a way to enhance a woman’s beauty rather than impose a designer’s ego. He recalled that Valentino often said his work was driven simply by a love for beauty, not by provocation or spectacle.

Founded in 1960, the Valentino fashion house became synonymous with timeless elegance, dressing some of the most influential women across generations — from Hollywood icons to political figures. The designer was especially known for his signature “Valentino red,” a colour that came to define glamour on global red carpets.

Giammetti emphasised that Valentino believed fashion should uplift women and be judged by what it gives to them, not by abstract artistic statements. This philosophy, he said, shaped the brand’s enduring appeal and global reputation.

Valentino’s body will lie in state at the Valentino Garavani and Giancarlo Giammetti Foundation in Rome, near the historic atelier where many of his designs were created. A funeral service will follow later this week at a basilica in the Italian capital.

Among those paying tribute were young fashion students and admirers, many of whom described Valentino as a mentor-like figure whose influence extended far beyond the fashion world. For them, his passing marks the end of an era in Italian fashion defined by grace, craftsmanship and respect.