L'Italo-Americano

L'Italo-Americano THURSDAY, JANUARY 22, 2026 www.italoamericano.org 6 NEWS & FEATURES TOP STORIES PEOPLE EVENTS ures such as Andy Warhol a n d V o g u e e d i t o r D i a n a Vreeland. His global success culminated in his farewell to the runway in 2007, after 45 years of career: three days widely described as the most glamorous in fashion histo- r y . A N S A r e p o r t e d : " A n exhibition of archival gar- ments at the Ara Pacis, a haute couture show at Santo Spirito in Sassia, and a gala dinner among the columns of the Temple of Venus – never before granted – with the Colosseum as a back- d r o p , a n d O s c a r w i n n e r Dante Ferretti designing the scenography." In between, as Vanity Fair Italia noted, there were "divas, icons, and princesses." Celebrities who chose the legendary couturi- er to mark moments that would become part of histo- ry, or perhaps, the question remains, was it the dress t h a t c r e a t e d t h e i c o n i c i m a g e ? L a d y D i a n a , f o r e x a m p l e , w o r e a n o w - famous Valentino red gown to break with royal protocol. " I t a l y l o s e s o n e o f i t s brightest and most admired f i g u r e s , " w r o t e R o m e ' s mayor Roberto Gualtieri. "Valentino Garavani taught the world what elegance and beauty truly mean. He rep- resented Italian excellence everywhere, elevating fash- ion to art. Rome, which saw h i s M a i s o n g r o w o n V i a Condotti and hosted unfor- gettable events celebrating his work, stands close to his family, friends, and all who loved him. Thank you, Mae- stro, for giving us an idea of beauty that is timeless and unforgettable." One of Valentino's last p u b l i c a p p e a r a n c e s t o o k place in Rome in 2019, when h e r e c e i v e d h o n o r s a n d applause at the Teatro dell'- Opera for the costumes he designed for Sofia Coppola's La Traviata. The Valentino maison, owned for the past 14 years by Qatar-based Mayhoola (valued at €5.6 billion, with revenues of €1.3 billion and over 1,600 employees) and n o w u n d e r t h e c r e a t i v e d i r e c t i o n o f A l e s s a n d r o Michele, remembered him by stating: "His unmistak- able style and innate ele- gance will live on, timeless and immortal. We will con- t i n u e t o s a f e g u a r d a n d enhance the precious cre- ative, cultural, and human legacy he passed on, which forms the foundation of the maison. His life was a guid- i n g l i g h t i n t h e c o n s t a n t s e a r c h f o r b e a u t y , a n d inspired by that same beau- t y , w e w i l l c o n t i n u e t o honor him with deep affec- tion." Pierpaolo Piccioli, cre- ative director of the maison until 2024 and collaborator for 25 years, recalled the combination of order, preci- s i o n , a n d l i g h t n e s s t h a t defined a style of "almost i n n o c e n t b r i l l i a n c e , a s i f every idea were always the first, as if wonder had never faded." "For you," Piccioli said, "beauty was never a luxury or an ornament. It was a form of protection, a place of safety, the only possible one." The Armani family also e x p r e s s e d t h e i r c o n d o - l e n c e s , r e m e m b e r i n g Valentino as "the undisput- ed master of grace and ele- g a n c e , f o r w h o m G i o r g i o A r m a n i a l w a y s h e l d t h e deepest respect. Valentino embodied the excellence of couture, the rigor of crafts- m a n s h i p , a n d a u n i q u e vision of fashion made of pure lines, iconic colors, and absolute beauty. His passing leaves an immense void." That respect was mutual. On S e p t e m b e r 4 , t h e d a y o f Armani's passing, Valentino w r o t e : " T o d a y I m o u r n someone I always consid- ered a friend, never a rival. I c a n o n l y b o w b e f o r e h i s immense talent, the changes he brought to fashion, and above all his unwavering fidelity to a style: his own." Sophia Loren, the last g r e a t d i v a , w h o w o r e Valentino when she accept- e d h e r L i f e t i m e A c h i e v e - ment Oscar in 1991, told La Presse: "My dear Valentino, the news of your passing fills me with deep sorrow. W e s h a r e d m o m e n t s o f great affection and sincere mutual respect. You had a gentle soul, rich in humani- ty. You were a friend, and your art and passion will remain a source of inspira- tion forever." If his cameo in the cult film The Devil Wears Prada, where he played himself, is well known, his most com- p l e t e p o r t r a i t a p p e a r s i n Matt Tyrnauer's documen- tary, aptly titled Valenti- no: The Last Emperor. Or perhaps it is best cap- tured in the theatrical line he loved to quote, echoing the Sun King: "Après moi le déluge. After me, the flood." "Valentino did not simply dress America; he shaped its idea of elegance. From Jackie Kennedy to the red carpets of Hollywood, his vision of timeless glamour became part of American cultural history" – Marco Peronaci, Italy's ambassador to the United States CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4 Valentino Garavani on the runway after one of his fashion shows (Photo: Fashionstock.com/Dreamstime)

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