Valentino’s death felt on Paris runways as menswear week opens in mourning

A 2007 file picture shows Valentino Garavani posing during the opening of his exhibition at the Ara Pacis Museum in Rome. Photo: Reuters

Valentino Garavani’s death cast a long shadow over the opening day of Paris Fashion Week menswear Tuesday (Jan 20), with front-row guests and industry figures mourning the passing of one of the last towering names of 20th-century couture – an Italian designer whose working life was closely entwined with the Paris runways.

Valentino, 93, died at his Rome residence, the Valentino Garavani And Giancarlo Giammetti Foundation said in a statement announcing his death.