Valentino Garavani, the Italian designer whose name was synonymous with couture discipline and colour mastery, has died at the age of 93. He passed away in Rome on January 19, 2026, according to an official statement released by the Valentino Garavani & Giancarlo Giammetti Foundation.

Born Valentino Clemente Ludovico Garavani in Voghera in 1932, he began his career at a time when elegance was still governed by structured tailoring and formal codes. Trained in Milan and Paris, Valentino returned to Italy in the late 1950s to establish his fashion house in Rome, a city whose grandeur and history would remain central to his design approach.

Photo: Shutterstock

By the 1960s, Valentino had had gained international clients, dressing aristocrats, actresses, and first ladies with a carefulness followed strict couture conventions. His work was featured sharp tailoring. Few designers have so successfully balanced excess with discipline, romance with order.

One of his defining signature is the color that became inseparable from his name a distinctive shade of red that was associated with formal evening wear and couture presentation rather than provocation. It was worn by Elizabeth Taylor, Audrey Hepburn, Jackie Kennedy, Sophia Loren, and later worn by contemporary actresses and public figures extending his cultural relevance across decades of cultural memory.

Photo: Shutterstock

His personal and professional partnership with Giancarlo Giammetti, who joined the house in 1960, shaped the business and public image of the house. Together, they built Valentino into one of Italy’s leading Italian couture houses navigating the transition from couture salon to global fashion house while maintaining its couture focus.

Valentino stepped away from active design in 2008, presenting his final collection with a final haute couture collection in Paris that reflected his long-standing emphasis to form and finish. While the house would go on under new creative leadership, his influence remained embedded in its shapes and couture techniques.

Tributes followed from across the fashion industry, film, and global culture, acknowledging not only his aesthetic contributions but his insistence on standards in an increasingly fast-paced industry. Within the fashion industry Valentino represented a belief in fashion as a discipline one shaped by patience, skill, and an understanding of beauty as something constructed, not improvised.

Photo: Centromedicoloira

He is survived by his partner Giancarlo Giammetti. Funeral arrangements will take place in Rome, with plans for a public viewing to be announced. With his passing, fashion loses one of its last true couturiers a designer whose work did not chase relevance, yet never lost it.

The Golden Globe Awards marked a recalibration of naked dressing, placing greater emphasis on how garments were constructed. While the wider red-carpet mood drew from classic Hollywood references, several celebrities used transparent fabrics, cutouts and illusion techniques to present exposed areas in their outfits. The focus was on the garments’ design rather than the amount of skin revealed. At the 2026 Golden Globes, red-carpet fashion pushed boundaries with bold transparency, cutouts, and innovative construction, showing that skin could be part of a look without dominating it.

Jennifer Lawrence – Instagram 

Jennifer Lawrence appeared in a delicate gown built on a fine base. The dress featured floral embroidery and a softly structured cape, with lightly transparent areas integrated into the design, resulting in a cohesive look that aligned with her previous red-carpet appearances.

Jennifer Lopez – Instagram 

Jennifer Lopez turned to heritage, wearing a vintage Jean-Louis Scherrer gown with a nude mesh base covered in dense brown embroidery. The design shaped the body through placement and pattern rather than exposure, and a tulle mermaid skirt supported the overall shape, with the transparent sections balanced within the design.

Justine Lupe – Instagram 

Justine Lupe wore an Armani Privé gown in pastel tones with crystal embroidery and pleated crinoline details. The outfit included soft, see-through areas that complemented the structure and volume of the dress, situating the look within couture construction rather than trend-driven styling.

Jenna Ortega – Instagram 

Jenna Ortega approached naked dressing through architectural cutouts and areas of negative space, exposing skin selectively while relying on construction rather than thin fabric alone. The openings were arranged to maintain a sharp, contemporary line without appearing excessive.

Teyana Taylor – Instagram 

Teyana Taylor’s gown combined cutout placement and embellishment with structured tailoring. The exposed areas were balanced with built elements, creating a cohesive design that integrated transparency as part of the garment’s construction.

Photo Credit – Getty Images

Away from the main ceremony, Lalisa embraced a light, soft mesh outfit at an after-party. The look demonstrated how transparent elements and cutouts can be adapted in different settings, integrating exposed areas alongside supportive details.

Taken together, these appearances illustrated how embroidery, cut and structure were emphasised over exposure alone. Across the night, skin appeared as one component alongside material, construction and overall shape rather than as the main focus, showing that naked dressing could be considered a design element rather than a statement in itself.

London’s Royal Albert Hall hosted the 2025 Fashion Awards, where the blue carpet highlighted how celebrities interpret formalwear with a focus on precision, material and proportion. Across the evening, arrivals reflected a clear sense of individual style while staying rooted in structured design, offering insight into current trends in red-carpet fashion.

Anok Yai

Anok Yai – Instagram

Anok Yai arrived in a custom Dilara Findikoglu gown with a pronounced corset and a sculpted skirt. The satin fabric held its form from bodice to hem, while the ruffled base extended elegantly behind her. The outfit was widely photographed and noted in several galleries for its striking combination of structure and composure.

Rita Ora

Rita Ora – Instagram

Rita Ora wore a slim, silver gown with a smooth, reflective surface. The dress followed a close line from shoulder to hem, and minimal jewellery allowed the design to remain the focus. Photographs from multiple outlets captured the simplicity and refinement of her choice, highlighting her as one of the night’s most memorable arrivals.

Cate Blanchett

Cate Blanchett – Instagram

Cate Blanchett selected an evening look from Sarah Burton for Givenchy, blending structured tailoring with formal detailing. Sharp lines across the shoulders and torso provided definition, while a subtle lace element added texture. Media coverage emphasized the precision of the ensemble, reinforcing Blanchett’s reputation for carefully considered eveningwear.

Lila Moss

Lila Moss

Lila Moss appeared in a black 16Arlington dress built from layered lace, sheer panels and feather accents. The textures added dimension to the base slip, creating visual interest without overwhelming the overall form. Fashion galleries described the outfit as a youthful and modern interpretation of evening dressing.

Colman Domingo

Colman Domingo – Instagram

Colman Domingo attended in a tailored dark suit, with a clean-cut jacket and straight-leg trousers. The understated ensemble relied on sharp proportions rather than embellishment, fitting seamlessly into the event’s menswear-focused coverage. Multiple outlets included him in their best-dressed lists for the evening.

Alex Consani

Alex Consani – Instagram

Alex Consani wore a sculptural dress that hugged the torso before widening with a defined architectural line. Press images emphasized the balance between form and modern construction, with Vogue noting the look’s streamlined and contemporary style.

Raye

Raye – Instagram

Raye appeared in a straight-cut off-shoulder dress that maintained a clean line from neckline to hem. The fabric provided a smooth, uninterrupted surface, allowing the outfit’s simplicity to be clearly visible in photographs. Galleries highlighted her appearance as one of the refined, minimalistic evening choices.

FKA twigs

FKA twigs – Instagram

FKA twigs chose an ensemble with bold proportions and contrasting textures, creating visual depth while keeping the lines defined. Photographs showed how the combination of materials gave the outfit a distinctive presence, earning her placement among the night’s most discussed appearances.

Kylie Minogue

Kylie Minogue – Instagram

Kylie Minogue wore a reflective satin evening gown with a streamlined cut. The fabric caught reflections without distraction, and the gown maintained a vertical flow from shoulder to hem. Coverage across major galleries noted her for understated glamour and careful execution.

Joe Alwyn

Joe Alwyn – Instagram

Joe Alwyn appeared in a classic tailored suit with a structured jacket and straight-cut trousers. Minimal accessories and clean lines emphasized the precision of his look, which photographers captured consistently in the evening’s menswear-focused coverage.

The 2025 Fashion Awards demonstrated a clear emphasis on tailored lines, thoughtful construction and attention to fabric quality. Across these ten verified appearances, designers and their clients showed that well-executed structure and proportion can dominate the red carpet without relying on excessive embellishment, offering a clear view of contemporary eveningwear trends.