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Valentino Garavani’s Most Memorable Designs — Including Signature Red Gowns — and How to Shop Their Close Matches Online

The legendary fashion designer died on January 19 at the age of 93.

By Stacia Datskovska Plus Icon

Stacia Datskovska

Senior Commerce Writer for WWD

Recent Articles by Stacia Datskovska

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January 20, 2026, 3:09pm

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jackie kennedy in a black valentino dress circa 1979; three distinct valentino dresses, in red, cream, and light green, over a white background

Courtesy Ron Galella/Getty Images, Valentino

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The Essential Valentino Shopping List

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The fashion industry was shaken by the news of Valentino Garavani’s death, announced on January 19, 2026. The amount of tributes that came pouring in almost instantly, from the likes of Donatella Versace, Ralph Lauren, Diane von Furstenberg, Tom Ford, and Valentino’s current creative director Alessandro Michele, made one thing clear: Here was a legend who managed to transform the fashion scene, become a true maestro of his craft, and teach the world, in the words of Italian dressmaker Alberta Ferretti, that “beauty can be gentle.”

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Garavani launched his namesake luxury fashion house in 1959, which soon became synonymous with all things feminine, glamorous, and, of course, red. This was the very hue that swathed his inaugural “Fiesta” dress, unveiled in the spring/summer 1959 collection; Princess Diana’s velvet-clad number from 1992, in which she attended a Paul McCartney performance; and beyond. In the past six-plus decades, starlets fell for his creations’ utter elegance, and so Garavani’s designs managed to win over everyone from Elizabeth Taylor, Sofia Loren, Audrey Hepburn, and Jackie Kennedy (she married Aristotle Onassis in Valentino) to Beyoncé, Julia Roberts, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Jennifer Aniston.

‘Valentino: A Grand Italian Epic’

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For red carpets and other formal events, A-listers across the world turned to Garavani when they needed a dress that would turn heads — be it vis-à-vis a seductive red shade, asymmetrical cut, body-skimming silhouette, use of delicate materials such as chiffon, or the inclusion of a cascading cape.

“There are only three things I can do: make a dress, decorate a house, and entertain people,” the iconic creative once told WWD.

And though the man’s most famous dresses are far from prêt-à-porter, you can certainly pay tribute to his life’s work by shopping their close matches. Everything from the label’s newly arrived Embroidered Crepe Couture Short Dress — whose butter yellow colorway mirrors that of the off-the-shoulder silk taffeta gown donned by Cate Blanchett at the 2005 Oscars — to the Fringed Silk Duchess Satin Tunic (with a Grecian profile reflecting Jackie Kennedy’s custom piece worn in Cambodia circa 1967) will leave no doubt in onlookers’ minds that what you have on is, indeed, Valentino.

Below, the most worth-it buys from the designer that will make it clear how someone with a five-foot-eight stature could tower so high over the fashion scene and leave so grand of a legacy.

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Greek-Inspired Silhouettes

Marie-Chantal, Crown Princess of Greece, wearing Jackie Kennedy’s custom mint-green Valentino gown — while standing next to Garavani himself as the two attend a gala. Courtesy Penske Media/Getty Images

Valentino Fringed Silk Duchess Satin Tunic

$4,340 $6,200 30% off

Buy Now at mytheresa

Jackie Kennedy was one of Garavani’s earliest supporters, pledging allegiance by choosing a Valentino design for her wedding dress (while marrying businessman Aristotle Onassis), though this was by no means the extent of her relationship to the couturier. From attending the 1979 Met Gala in a strapless, all-black dress to paying an official visit to Cambodia while saving a green, one-shouldered, Greek-coded frock for the main event, the former First Lady looked flawless in every last Valentino piece she absorbed into her wardrobe.

And now you can, too, what with this fringe-bedecked, kaftan-inspired pick available to shop at leading womenswear retailer Mytheresa. Its color is not an exact match for Kennedy’s garb (and later the Crown Princess of Greece’s), but we adore the fact that you can pair the 100-percent silk top with similarly flowy pants or show some leg by taking it for a spin solo. Classic yet not afraid of a bit of flair, the tunic epitomizes what Garavani always did best: dressing women to the nines while accentuating their natural beauty.

Price upon publish date of this article: $4,340

Butter-Yellow Bliss

Cate Blanchett poses with her Best Performance by a Supporting Actress award during the 77th Academy Awards on February 27, 2005. She’s wearing Valentino. Courtesy Frank Micelotta/Getty Images

Valentino Embroidered Crepe Couture Short Dress

$5,900

Buy Now at valentino

We urge you not to be fooled by the misconception that Garavani only worked in the realm of red. Sure, say the phrase “Valentino Red” and you’ll bring up a vision of the vibrant, scarlet color the designer was so heavy-handed with throughout his career (believe it or not, it has its very own place in Pantone‘s extensive color library). But Garavani ventured beyond this romance-exuding shade, wrapping some of his finest work in the aforementioned mint green, as well as black, brown, creamy white, and the butter yellow seen above.

Cate Blanchett notably appeared in this hue to receive an Oscar in 2005, and it was also spotted on Kaia Gerber (though in its faint, almost white-adjacent iteration masterminded by Valentino) at the 2025 Oscars after-party. Still trending in the universes of fashion and interior design both, butter yellow deserves your full attention as part of the just-dropped Valentino Embroidered Crepe Couture Short Dress. More cropped than Garavani’s typical red carpet masterpieces, its delicate crepe fabric, 100-percent silk lining, and playful touches like rhinestone embroidery and bows all offer up something irresistible — whether you end up wearing it to an upcoming gala or make the item more casual for your next lunch date with the help of a chic denim jacket. We trust that Garavani wouldn’t scoff at the latter combination.

Price upon publish date of this article: $5,900

The Long, the Flowy, and the Red

Dua Lipa at the British Academy Film Awards on February 18, 2024, wearing a dramatic Valentino dress with a scarf neckline. Courtesy ADRIAN DENNIS/Getty Images

Valentino Long Cady Couture Dress

$13,000

Buy Now at valentino

Before you say anything, $13,000 is not a surprising price to pay for a Valentino dress, considering the label’s patriarch was (and is) one of fashion’s greatest names even beyond his 2008 retirement (he was dubbed the “Sheik of Chic” by WWD’s publisher and editor-in-chief John Fairchild). Here, you’ll get all the benefits of his most prized couture: in a startlingly red dress with ruching at the waist and a sexy slit at the leg that contrasts with the conservative nature of its mock neck.

No shortage of Hollywood elite have said a passionate “yes” to Valentino Red, including Dua Lipa, Kim Kardashian, Anne Hathaway, and more. Since first showing favor to the color via the “Fiesta” style, it’s appeared in most Valentino collections, functioning almost like Garavani’s personal lucky charm. No matter if the dress in question was fitted or flowy, spaghetti-strapped or featuring a V-neck, cape-equipped or streamlined — when it was red, it was unforgettable, and that’s exactly the effect Garavani was going for. You’ll witness it firsthand with Long Cady, mark our words.

Price upon publish date of this article: $13,000

Ruffles All the Way

Doja Cat attends the 2023 TIME100 Gala on April 26, 2023, in New York City. She chose a Valentino spring 2023 haute couture gown for the occasion. Courtesy Kevin Mazur/Getty Images

Valentino Ruffle Cuff Crepe Couture Short Dress

$4,800

Buy Now at saks fifth avenue

Garavani was a proponent of texture in his gowns, meaning ruffles — on cuffs or cascading down the dresses’ fronts — were never off the table. This couture selection is formal throughout, save for those fun, frilly ends on the wrists that end up making its Birch shade all the more ethereal-looking. If you shop this Saks bestseller, you’ll be in good company, as stars from Doja Cat and Nicola Coughlan to Apple Martin have all stepped out in Valentino styles that boasted a hearty dose of ruffles. Martin’s look, courtesy of Alessandro Michele, was actually a tribute to the house’s founder: proving once again how inseparable such details were from all that Garavani stood for.

Go ahead and throw on this short-and-sweet offering before your next night out, completing it with a Valentino accessory for good measure (we recommend the brand’s menagerie of handbags, bearing its instantly recognizable logo in gold hardware form).

Price upon publish date of this article: $4,800

Shop Even More Valentino Bestsellers

Valentino Ballerina Embellished Leather Flat

$990

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Price upon publish date of this article: $990

Valentino Signature Mini Bow-Detailed Shoulder Bag

$1,590

Buy Now at net-a-porter

Price upon publish date of this article: $1,590

Valentino Le Chat De La Maison Nylon Bag Charm With Key Ring

$690

Buy Now at valentino

Price upon publish date of this article: $690

Valentino Chez Valentino Bracelet in Metal, Enamel, and Swarovski Crystals

$2,150

Buy Now at neiman marcus

Price upon publish date of this article: $2,150

Valentino Signature Nappa Leather Gloves With Bows

$1,150

Buy Now at saks fifth avenue

Price upon publish date of this article: $1,150

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Since 1910, WWD — often referred to as “the fashion bible” — has been the leading industry voice of authority for senior executives in the global women’s and men’s fashion, retail and beauty communities, while also informing the consumer media that cover the market. Today, WWD’s breaking news and trend coverage continues to be a trustworthy resource for both fashion insiders and consumers alike. Our shopping editors continue to uphold WWD’s editorial standards and values with quality, expert-backed product selections. Learn more about us here.

Meet the Author

Stacia Datskovska is a Senior Commerce Writer at WWD. Previously, she worked at ELLE DECOR as an assistant digital editor, covering all things luxury, culture, and lifestyle through a design lens. Her bylines over the past five years have appeared in USA Today, Baltimore Sun, Teen Vogue, Boston Globe, Food & Wine, and more. Prior to joining ELLE DECOR, Datskovska learned the ins and outs of e-commerce at Mashable, where she tested products, covered tentpole sales events, and curated gift guide roundups. She graduated from NYU with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and international relations. Datskovska regularly reports on the most worthy fashions to shop from iconic, global designers.

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Valentino Garavani’s Most Memorable Designs — Including Signature Red Gowns — and How to Shop Their Close Matches Online

Recent Articles by Stacia Datskovska

The Essential Valentino Shopping List

‘Valentino: A Grand Italian Epic’

Valentino Fringed Silk Duchess Satin Tunic

Valentino Embroidered Crepe Couture Short Dress

Valentino Long Cady Couture Dress

Valentino Ruffle Cuff Crepe Couture Short Dress

Valentino Ballerina Embellished Leather Flat

Valentino Signature Mini Bow-Detailed Shoulder Bag

Valentino Le Chat De La Maison Nylon Bag Charm With Key Ring

Valentino Chez Valentino Bracelet in Metal, Enamel, and Swarovski Crystals

Valentino Signature Nappa Leather Gloves With Bows

Related Articles

‘Valentino: A Grand Italian Epic’

Greek-Inspired Silhouettes

Valentino Fringed Silk Duchess Satin Tunic

Butter-Yellow Bliss

Valentino Embroidered Crepe Couture Short Dress

The Long, the Flowy, and the Red

Valentino Long Cady Couture Dress

Ruffles All the Way

Valentino Ruffle Cuff Crepe Couture Short Dress

Shop Even More Valentino Bestsellers

Valentino Ballerina Embellished Leather Flat

Valentino Signature Mini Bow-Detailed Shoulder Bag

Valentino Le Chat De La Maison Nylon Bag Charm With Key Ring

Valentino Chez Valentino Bracelet in Metal, Enamel, and Swarovski Crystals

Valentino Signature Nappa Leather Gloves With Bows

Why Trust WWD

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