Valentino: Gwyneth Paltrow leads tributes for the Italian designer

Valentino Garavani has died aged 93 in Rome; celebrities including Gwyneth Paltrow, Donatella Versace and Cindy Crawford have paid public tributes.

Valentino Garavani, known simply as Valentino, has died at the age of 93. He died on Monday at his residence in Rome, surrounded by loved ones, according to a joint statement shared on his and his foundation's Instagram page. Valentino co-founded his eponymous fashion house in the 1960s with Giancarlo Giammetti and became known for his signature "Valentino Red" and the use of bows, ruffles and lace. His designs dressed high society and many film stars and remained influential across decades. Key details: - Valentino died aged 93 in Rome, as announced in a joint statement on his and his foundation's Instagram account. - He co-founded Maison Valentino in the 1960s with Giancarlo Giammetti and became known for "Valentino Red" and a distinctive aesthetic of bows, ruffles and lace. - Clients over his career included Diana, Princess of Wales, Elizabeth Taylor, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Audrey Hepburn and Sophia Loren, and his gowns were frequently seen on red carpets. - Public tributes came from figures including Gwyneth Paltrow, Donatella Versace, Cindy Crawford, Sarah Jessica Parker, Pierpaolo Piccioli and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. - Gwyneth Paltrow described the news as the "end of an era," and others praised his talent, mentorship and lasting influence on fashion. - He received the Legion d'honneur in 2006, announced his retirement in 2007 after marking 45 years in the industry, and will lie in state at Piazza Mignanelli on January 21–22 with a funeral at the Basilica of Saint Mary of the Angels and Martyrs on January 23. Summary: Valentino's passing has prompted widespread tributes from the fashion and entertainment communities, underlining his long influence on haute couture and celebrity style. Public viewings at the foundation and a funeral service in Rome are planned later this week, and his fashion house has expressed a commitment to preserve the creative and cultural heritage he entrusted to it.