Italy’s legendary couturier Valentino was laid to rest in Rome on Friday (23 January), drawing designers, actors and industry leaders to a ceremony marked by quiet emotion and flashes of his signature red.
Mourners filled the Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli, the Michelangelo-designed church that became the setting for Valentino’s final tribute. Black dominated the room, softened by discreet touches of red chosen by guests as a quiet nod to the couturier’s signature shade.
Valentino's partner, Bruce Hoeksema, and Giancarlo Giammetti, who helped build the Valentino label into a global luxury house, accompanied the plain wooden coffin into the basilica, greeted by applause from crowds outside.
Hoeksema paid tribute to his partner of over four decades: "Valentino, you were the person I spoke to, not the person I spoke about. You were beside me when words were not needed. Life was not always perfect, but it was real. One day at a time, for more than 40 years."
In his eulogy, Giammetti added: "Through him, I discovered beauty, a beauty that followed us throughout our lives, that has kept us busy. We met when we were kids, we dreamed the same dreams, we managed to realise some of them, I would even say many of them."
Many attendees had long-standing connections with Valentino. Donatella Versace and Tom Ford were among contemporaries who often cited his impact on modern couture.
Former editor-in-chief of Vogue Anna Wintour, Maria Grazia Chiuri, Anne Hathaway and Elizabeth Hurley were among the famous faces in attendance. Valentino’s current and former creative directors, along with senior industry figures.
Valentino died on Monday (19 January) in Rome. He was 93. More than 10,000 people went to see him lying in state in Piazza Mignanelli, close to his fashion house’s historic headquarters.
White flowers surrounded the altar and a black-and-white photograph stood beside the coffin during the service. A private burial followed.
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