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World fashion celebrities joined the crowd Friday morning for legendary designer Valentino’s funeral in Rome at the central Basilica di Santa Maria degli Angeli e di Martyri.
After two days of public viewing at the Valentino Foundation headquarters in the Italian capital on Wednesday and Thursday, the funeral marked the final tribute to the world-renowned designer.
Top fashion names including designers Tom Ford and Donatella Versace attended the funeral, along with long-time Vogue magazine powerhouse Anna Wintour, as well as Hollywood stars such as Anne Hathaway.
Fans and admirers gathered outside the church, some wearing red or red accessories to pay their last respects to the designer’s shade of color.
Valentino Garavani died at his home in Rome on Monday at the age of 93; Through generations of royalty, first ladies and celebrities such as Jackie Kennedy Onassis, Queen Rania of Jordan and Julia Roberts, the designer has always made them look and feel their best.
Hundreds of people paid tribute to the “last emperor” of Italian fashion during the public viewing. Valentino has always maintained his atelier in Rome, but he presents his collections in Paris.
The highly-acclaimed costumes have won countless Academy Awards, most notably in 2011. In 2001, Roberts wore a classic black and white column to accept her Best Actress statue. Cate Blanchett wore a one-shoulder Valentino in butter-yellow silk when she won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress in 2005.
“I want to thank Valentino for teaching me beauty,” longtime personal and professional partner Giancarlo Giammetti said, his voice breaking with emotion in his reminiscences.
“It was a beauty that followed us all our lives, we met in childhood, we dreamed of the same things and achieved many things. Our journey will always continue,” he said.
