Valentino Garavani — the singular fashion talent generally known simply as “Valentino” — died on January 19, 2026, at his home in Rome, at the age of 93, as per The New York Times. A cause of death was not immediately given.

Born on May 11, 1923, Valentino Clemente Ludovico Garavani was named after acting legend Rudolph Valentino, and quickly began a similarly glamorous life, starting his fashion career in Paris in the 1950s, where he apprenticed with numerous fashion houses, including Balenciaga. In 1960, he returned to Italy and opened his own fashion house in Rome; Elizabeth Taylor was an early champion of his work and wore one of his gowns to the 1960 premiere of Spartacus.

His major breakthrough happened in 1964, when Jackie Kennedy became a devoted client. She wore his designs during her year of mourning for husband John F. Kennedy, and in 1968, he designed the dress she wore for her wedding to Aristotle Onassis.

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Valentino continued his high profile career through the ’80s, ’90s and 2000s — highlights included dressing Joan Collins at her Dynasty peak, designing for Elizabeth Taylor for both her 1991 wedding to Larry Fortensky and her 1993 Academy Award win, and Julia Roberts accepting her Best Actress Academy Award for Erin Brockovich while decked out in Valentino — before retiring in 2008. The story of his final collection was told in the 2008 documentary Valentino: The Last Emperor.

He is survived by Giancarlo Giammetti, who was his partner in the house of Valentino as well as his romantic partner from 1960 to 1972.