Throughout his life, he was forever associated with ‘Valentino red’. To mark his death, however, a more sombre colour was the order of the day – ‘Valentino black’.
The funeral of designer Valentino Garavani, who died on Monday aged 93, drew the highest echelons of the fashion and film industries, including actress Anne Hathaway, 43, global chief content officer of Conde Nast, Anna Wintour, 76, and designers Tom Ford, 64, and Donatella Versace, 70.
All arrived at the Basilica of Saint Mary of the Angels and Martyrs in Rome to pay their respects to a true fashion great – a man whose glamorous designs were worn by Jacqueline Kennedy, Elizabeth Taylor, Julia Roberts and Diana, Princess of Wales.
One of the first to arrive was Ms Hathaway, who met Valentino after his cameo in the 2006 film The Devil Wears Prada, in which she starred alongside Meryl Streep.
Friends for 20 years, Valentino accompanied Ms Hathaway to the 2011 Oscars, as well as designing her wedding dress in 2012 – he once even described her as being ‘like my daughter’.
Although Ms Hathaway frequently wore his signature red gowns on the red carpet, she chose a fitted black knee-length Valentino coat for the funeral.
Also among the mourners was long-time friend, model Olivia Palermo, 39, dressed in a black satin bolero with a long black Valentino frock coat and accessorised with a veil.
Donatella Versace eschewed her own label to pay her respects by wearing a fitted black Valentino shift dress.
Donatella Versace eschewed her own label to pay respects by wearing a fitted black Valentino shift dress
Anne Hathaway, described by Valentino once as like his ‘daughter’, wore a fitted black knee-length Valentino coat for the funeral
Anna Wintour also arrived at the Basilica di Santa Maria on Friday for the funeral of the Italian fashion designer, who died in Rome at the age of 93
Other guests celebrated Valentino’s love of colour with a splash of their own, including Anna Wintour, who wore a bold, brightly hued necklace.
Stars penned effusive tributes, including actress Gwyneth Paltrow, 53, who wrote on Instagram: ‘I was so lucky to know and love Valentino – to know the real man, in private. The man who was in love with beauty, his family, his muses, his friends. His dogs, his gardens, and a good Hollywood story. I loved him so much.’
Valentino the man may have passed, but his legend lives on.
On Wednesday, the Valentino couture show is set to take place in Paris, during the city’s bi-annual haute couture week.
Although former Gucci designer Alessandro Michele is now the creative director of the fashion house, the show is sure to be awash with unadulterated Valentino glamour.
