Valentino Garavani, the Italian designer who died on Monday at 93, believed in the power of beauty and la dolce vita as if it were a religion and he its greatest prophet. For decades he designed paeans to the allure of red and the carefully placed ruffle. Through periods of power dressing and grunge he never lost his faith. Instead, he spread the word from Rome to Paris and beyond, and generations of women bought in — literally — to the belief that by enhancing the outside, you also enhanced the inside.
Acolytes included Jacqueline Kennedy, Elizabeth Taylor, Princess Diana and Julia Roberts. Jennifer Lopez wore Valentino to one of her weddings, and so did Nicky Hilton. Because of his perma-tan and his pugs, Mr. Garavani, known generally as Valentino, was as recognizable as the celebrities he dressed. He and his partner, Giancarlo Giammetti (first in life, then in business), lived as graciously as his clients, with multiple homes, a yacht and a ski chalet. For him, decoration was a delight and a responsibility, and he founded his kingdom on the idea that it would never go out of fashion.
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