Valentino Garavani, the Italian couturier known for dressing Hollywood stars and royalty, passed away Monday at his home in Rome. The designer, who revolutionized haute couture and became synonymous with timeless elegance, was 93 years old.

Known universally by his first name alone, Valentino created a business empire and introduced “Valentino Red” to the fashion world. His foundation announced that he died surrounded by loved ones, and his body will lie in state Wednesday and Thursday before a funeral in Rome on Friday.

Throughout his nearly half-century career, which spanned from the 1960s until his retirement in 2008, Valentino dressed some of the world’s most glamorous women. Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Julia Roberts, and Queen Rania of Jordan were among those who trusted him to make them look their best.

Julia Roberts wore a vintage black and white Valentino gown when accepting her Oscar in 2001, creating one of the most iconic red carpet moments in Academy Awards history. The designer also created the long-sleeved lace dress Jacqueline Kennedy wore to marry Aristotle Onassis in 1968, cementing a decades-long friendship between the former first lady and the couturier.

Valentino was considered one of the last great designers from an era before fashion became a highly commercial global industry, alongside Giorgio Armani and Karl Lagerfeld. His passing marks the end of a golden age in couture, leaving behind a legacy that transformed modern glamour and elevated Italian fashion to global prominence.

The fashion world mourns the loss of a true visionary whose red carpets, runways, and romantic designs will continue to inspire generations of designers and fashion lovers for decades to come.