Italian haute couture star Valentino painted fashion red

A mix of carmine and scarlet, with a hint of orange - a new hue, inspired by an elderly woman at Barcelona’s opera house, whose elegance struck a young Valentino Garavani.

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The colour, introduced to the fashion world several years later, in 1959, with a strapless cocktail dress of draped tulle, has carried his name - “Valentino red” - ever since, doubling as the eponymous Italian fashion group's signature.

“I think a woman dressed in red is always wonderful, she is the perfect image of a heroine,” Valentino wrote in the book Rosso (Red) released in 2022. He would include at least one red dress in every one of his collections.

Valentino, one of Italy’s leading fashion designers, died on Jan 19 at his Roman residence, his foundation announced. He was 93.

His death comes just months after the passing of another Italian style legend, Giorgio Armani, and there were tributes from the global fashion world and beyond.

“Valentino Garavani passed away today at his Roman residence, surrounded by his loved ones,” his foundation said in a statement.

Within minutes of the announcement, memories of the elegant and tanned designer began to flood social media.

Fellow Italian fashion designer Donatella Versace wrote on Instagram: “Today, we lost a true maestro who will forever be remembered for his art.”

Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni called Valentino the “undisputed master of style and elegance and eternal symbol of Italian high fashion”. “Today Italy loses a legend,” she wrote.

The cause of death was not immediately known.

'I LOVE BEAUTY'