Fashion and Film Icons Pay Tribute to Valentino at Rome Funeral
The world of fashion and entertainment united in Rome on Friday to bid a final farewell to the legendary designer Valentino, whose death at age 93 has left a profound void in the industry. Stars from the runway and screen gathered at the historic Basilica di Santa Maria degli Angeli for a poignant service, marking the end of an era for Italian haute couture.
A Gathering of Fashion Royalty
The funeral saw an illustrious assembly of fashion's most influential figures, including Donatella Versace, Tom Ford, and Maria Grazia Chiuri. They were joined by a host of celebrities such as actresses Anne Hathaway and Elizabeth Hurley, alongside models Natalia Vodianova and Bianca Brandolini d'Adda. The mourners added vibrant touches of "Valentino red," the designer's signature colour, to the solemn occasion, creating a visual tribute to his iconic style.
Other notable attendees included Vogue's global editorial director Anna Wintour, American socialite Olivia Palermo, and Valentino's creative directors Alessandro Michele and Pierpaolo Piccioli. The business side of fashion was represented by Valentino's chief executive Riccardo Bellini, French billionaire Francois-Henri Pinault, and Antoine Arnault, eldest son of LVMH chairman Bernard Arnault.
Emotional Tributes and Personal Reflections
Valentino's co-founder Giancarlo Giammetti, dressed in a tailored black satin suit, delivered a heartfelt eulogy, reflecting on their lifelong partnership. "Through him, I discovered beauty, a beauty that followed us throughout our lives," he said, adding that they shared dreams from childhood and realised many of them together. His partner, Bruce Hoeksema, also spoke, recalling their over 40-year relationship with poignant words about life's imperfections and realities.
The wooden coffin was accompanied into the church by Giammetti and Hoeksema, drawing applause from the crowd outside, a testament to the designer's enduring impact on both the public and his peers.
A Legacy of Dressing Icons
Valentino's five-decade career was marked by his creations gracing some of the world's most famous women. His dresses became staples on Hollywood red carpets, worn by stars like Julia Roberts, Reese Witherspoon, Jennifer Lopez, and Cate Blanchett. Beyond cinema, he dressed royalty and political figures, including Princess Diana, Queen Rania of Jordan, and former US first lady Jacqueline Kennedy, who notably wore his designs during her mourning period for John F Kennedy.
The funeral took place in a basilica designed by Michelangelo, built on ancient Roman ruins, and famed for its red marbled walls—a fitting backdrop that echoed Valentino's signature hue. Over the past two days, more than 10,000 people had paid their respects as Valentino lay in state in Rome's Piazza Mignanelli, near his fashion house's historical headquarters.
Born Valentino Garavani in Voghera, northern Italy, he became synonymous with his eponymous fashion line, leaving behind a legacy that continues to inspire and define elegance in the global fashion landscape.
