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.
The U.S. military announced that it has completed a new wave of strikes against Iranian military targets under U.S. President Donald Trump's orders. T...
The German broadcaster says energy, trade, transport and regional stability are transforming relations between Baku and Berlin....
Aid organisations in Afghanistan are struggling to keep women in work as Taliban restrictions force them to spend more on male guardians, transport an...
Giorgio Armani Privé showed shimmering gowns and roomy suits in dusky tones on Tuesday in Paris, in the second haute couture show since Armani passed away in September last year, leaving the womenswear creative director role to his niece Silvana Armani.
Spanish police in Catalonia have detained Jonathan Andic, the son of Mango fashion group founder Isak Andic, as part of an ongoing investigation into the circumstances surrounding his father’s death in December 2024, authorities said.
The steps of the Metropolitan Museum of Art were transformed once again into the world's most prestigious runway for the 2026 Met Gala. This year’s theme, 'Costume Art,' invited guests to explore the intersection of nature, history, and the surreal under the official dress code 'Fashion Is Art'.
A French fashion label is placing China at the heart of its global ambitions, choosing Shanghai for its worldwide debut in a move that shows growing confidence in the country’s consumer market and cultural influence.
U.S. President Donald Trump announced the reimposition of a U.S. naval blockade on all Iranian ports and warned that power plants and bridges could be targeted next week unless Tehran returns to negotiations.
The United States carried out a third consecutive night of airstrikes against Iran, targeting military capabilities around the Strait of Hormuz as Donald Trump announced the reinstatement of a blockade on Iranian shipping and proposed a 20% fee on cargo passing through the strategic waterway.
The U.S. military announced that it has completed a new wave of strikes against Iranian military targets under U.S. President Donald Trump's orders. The operation targeted command centres, air defence systems, missile and drone facilities, and coastal surveillance sites across multiple locations.
The death toll from the fire at a live music pub in Bangkok has climbed to 32 after two more victims died from their injuries, according to Thailand's Police Hospital.
Ukraine and Russia exchanged fresh attacks on Tuesday, with Kyiv targeting shipping and energy infrastructure inside Russia while Moscow launched another large-scale missile and drone assault on Ukrainian cities.
The airline captain celebrated for safely landing a passenger jet on New York's Hudson River in 2009 has revealed he has been diagnosed with early-stage Alzheimer's disease.
New Zealand actor Sam Neill, best known internationally for his role in 'Jurassic Park', died suddenly on Monday aged 78 after recovering from cancer, his family said.
Uzbekistan has approved a new film rebate programme offering foreign productions up to 4 billion soums (around U.S.$315,000) in reimbursement as it seeks to attract international filmmakers and boost tourism through cinema.
More than 100 countries now spend more on servicing debt than on education, UNESCO has warned, as it called on governments and international lenders to expand the use of debt-for-education swaps.
The Welsh rock singer Bonnie Tyler, best known for the global hit "Total Eclipse of the Heart," has died aged 75 in Portugal.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment