Rome is paying its last respects to legendary designer Valentino, whose high-glamour gowns and trademark shade of red became an iconic symbol of Italian elegance. Valentino Garavani, who has died on Monday aged 93, is lying in state at his foundation in Piazza Mignanelli on Wednesday and Thursday.<\/b>
\nRome was paying its last respects to the legendary Valentino on Wednesday at the start of a two-day public viewing for a fashion designer whose high-glamour gowns and trademark shade of red became an iconic symbol of Italian elegance.
Valentino Garavani, who died aged 93 at his Rome residence on Monday, is lying in state at his foundation in Piazza Mignanelli, just a few steps away from the world-known Spanish Steps.
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The funeral for the jet-set Italian designer, who built his house in the Italian capital, will be held on Friday in the Basilica di Santa Maria degli Angeli e dei Martiri in central Rome.
Universally known by his first name, Valentino was adored by generations of royals, first ladies and movie stars, from Jackie Kennedy Onassis to Julia Roberts and Queen Rania of Jordan, who swore the designer always made them look and feel their best.
Hundreds of fashion celebrities, authorities and Roman citizens lined up to honor the \u201clast emperor\u201d of Italian fashion during the public viewing. He always maintained his atelier in Rome, while he mostly unveiled his collections in Paris.
Mourners waited in line to enter the headquarters of Valentino\u2019s foundation and stop for a few moments in front of his coffin, adorned with just one red rose and surrounded by white flowers.
Only his closest relatives and friends sat on both sides of the coffin, including his two beloved fawn-colored pugs.
\u201cI worked for him for 14 years . Those were the most beautiful years of my life, the ones with him», said hairdresser Alba Armillei. \u201cEverything he touched became beautiful.\u201d
Hailing him as one of \u201cItaly\u2019s most luminous and beloved figures,\u201d Rome’s Mayor Roberto Gualtieri underlined the designer\u2019s strong links with the Italian capital.
Alba Verga, in her red Valentino coat, remembered Valentino as \u201cthe biggest, most immense forever.\u201d
«He made us dream. His dresses for me were sculptures, works of art, but above all dreams and through his dresses, I always dreamed,\u201d she said.
Alessandro Michele, the current creative director of the Valentino fashion house, said the Maestro would be irreplaceable, but left a sound heritage.
\u201cHe’s been a great example of life,\u201d Michele told reporters before entering the foundation for his last salute. \u201cHe came from afar and built something immense.\u201d
Dancer Eleonora Abbagnato recalled \u201cthe first dress created by Valentino for the Vienna Opera when I danced for New Year\u2019s Eve with ostrich feathers, true elegance, the red, the emotions and effect that he created.\u201d
Windows of the central Valentino store were covered up with black with his famous quote: \u201cI love beauty. It is not my fault.\u201d
Never one for edginess or statement dressing, Valentino\u2019s nearly half-century career stretched from his early days in Rome in the 1960s through to his retirement in 2008.
He founded the house of Valentino on Rome\u2019s central Via Condotti in 1959.
Valentino\u2019s fail-safe designs made him the king of the red carpet, the go-to man for A-listers\u2019 awards ceremony needs.
His sumptuous gowns have graced countless Academy Awards, notably in 2001, when Roberts wore a vintage black and white column to accept her best actress statue. Cate Blanchett also wore Valentino \u2014 a one-shouldered number in butter-yellow silk \u2014 when she won the Oscar for best supporting actress in 2005.<\/p>\n