Donatella Versace made a powerful visual statement in Rome as she paid her respects to the late Valentino Garavani. In a moment defined by tradition and solemnity, the Italian designer chose to honor her longtime peer in a way only she could, through bold color, confidence, and intention.
Spotted arriving in Rome, Versace wore a sharply tailored bright red suit that immediately stood out. She completed the look with matching platform heels in the same rich shade, shielding her eyes behind oversized black sunglasses. The styling was minimal but deliberate, allowing the color to carry the emotional and cultural weight of the moment. In a setting where black is often expected, Versace’s red was not disruptive. It was deeply symbolic.
Why Red Was the Ultimate Tribute
The choice of red was layered with meaning. Valentino Garavani is inseparable from the hue that came to be known globally as Valentino red. The color became so iconic that Pantone, an extraordinary distinction in fashion history, formally recognized it.
By wearing red to honor Valentino, Versace wasn’t making the moment about herself. She was referencing the very visual language that defined his career. Valentino red represented passion, confidence, romance, and clarity of vision. It dressed generations of women and became one of the most recognizable signatures in luxury fashion.
Versace’s look transformed mourning attire into a celebration of creative legacy. It suggested that remembering a designer like Valentino means honoring what he loved most: beauty, drama, and color used with purpose.
Walking Beside Pierpaolo Piccioli
Versace arrived arm in arm with Pierpaolo Piccioli, the former creative director of Valentino. Piccioli wore an all-black outfit paired with sneakers, understated and modern. His monochromatic look contrasted Versace’s vivid red, creating a visual dialogue between two interpretations of respect.
Piccioli’s black ensemble reflected restraint and reflection, while Versace’s red embodied remembrance through symbolism. Together, they represented different generations and philosophies within Italian fashion, united by admiration for a man who shaped the industry.
Their appearance together carried emotional resonance. Piccioli helped guide Valentino into a new era, while Versace stands as one of the few designers whose name holds comparable global weight. Seeing them side by side in Rome underscored the collective sense of loss felt across the fashion world.
The Origins of Valentino Red
Valentino Garavani’s fascination with red began early. As a child, he was captivated by the costumes in George Bizet’s opera Carmen and by how the color appeared throughout the audience. That early impression stayed with him.
His first major use of red came in 1959, when he debuted a poppy-colored dress at his very first fashion show. The response was immediate. From that point forward, red became a constant in his collections, reappearing season after season in gowns that defined elegance and power.
Valentino red was never just a trend. It became a signature that transcended time, photographed flawlessly, and communicated authority without excess. Celebrities, socialites, and royalty embraced it, reinforcing its place in fashion history.
A City, a Farewell, and a Lasting Legacy
Valentino Garavani is currently lying in state in Rome, with his funeral set to take place tomorrow. He died at home on Monday at the age of 93. Since the news of his passing, tributes have poured in from designers, celebrities, and institutions across the globe, all acknowledging his lasting influence.
Versace herself shared a personal tribute shortly after his death, honoring him as a true maestro and expressing her thoughts for Giancarlo Giammetti, his longtime partner and collaborator. Her words mirrored the sentiment behind her Rome appearance, personal, respectful, and rooted in shared history.
Donatella Versace’s red look was a reminder that fashion can communicate emotion where words fall short. In choosing Valentino red, she honored not just a man, but an idea, that color, when used with conviction, can define a lifetime of work.