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Iconic Italian fashion designer Valentino Garavani died aged of 93 ’surrounded by his loved ones’ at his home in Rome on Monday, its been announced.
His foundation took to Instagram to confirm the tragic news and to announce his body would lay in state ahead of Friday’s funeral.
Valentino Clemente Ludovico Garavani, known mononymously as Valentino, dressed everyone from Kim Kardashian and Victoria Beckham to Princess Diana and former First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy throughout his incredible sixty year career.
The statement read:’ The foundazione Valentio Garavani e Giancarlo Giametti announces the passing of its founder, Valentino Garvani, who peacefully passed away today at his residence in Tome, surrounded by his family’.
‘The lying in state will be held at PM23 in Piazza Mignanelli 23 on Wednesday January 21st and Thursday January 22nd, from 11:00 am to 6:00 pm’.
Before adding: ‘The funeral will take place on Friday, January 23rd at the Basilica Santa Maria degli Angeli e dei Martiri, in Piazza della Repubblica 8 in Rome, at 11 am’.
Iconic Italian fashion designer Valentino Garavani died aged of 93 ’surrounded by his loved ones’ at his home in Rome on Monday (pictured with Kim Kardashian in 2014)
His foundation took to Instagram to confirm the tragic news following his passing at his home in Rome (Pictured with Victoria Beckham in 2018)
The statement read:’ The Foundazione Valentio Garavani e Giancarlo Giametti announces the passing of its founder, Valentino Garvani’
Valentino Clemente Ludovico Garavani was born in 1932 just south of Milan in the small town of Voghera.
His passion for fashion began as a young boy, and at age 17, he moved to Paris to study at the prestigious École des Beaux-Arts and the Chambre Syndicale de la Couture Parisienne.
Throughout the 1950s, Valentino apprenticed for various Parisian couture houses, where he honed his art in fashion design before returning to Rome to launch his own fashion line with partner Giancarlo Giammetti.
He quickly developed a loyal clientele, including Elizabeth Taylor, who became one of his first famous customers.
Valentino and Giancarlo had a 12-year romantic relationship but that transitioned into one of ‘fraternal love’ several decades ago.
‘It’s a relationship with nothing sexual in it,’ Giancarlo said in a 2004 interview. ‘Yet a great love remains, ancient, surviving.’
The pair have often said the key to their enduring relationship is having space from each other.
Valentino, dressed everyone from Kim Kardashian and Victoria Beckham to Elizabeth Taylor (pictured with Sara Jessica Parker 2012 )
Italy September 1990 – Princess Diana looks radiant on board a yacht in Italy with Prince Kyril of Preslav in never-before-seen photos shared by Valentino co-founder Giancarlo Giammetti
