A photo-led look at Valentino Garavani’s red carpet greatest hits, from Jackie Kennedy Onassis to Zendaya, and thhe glamour codes that shapes decades of celebrity style.
There are numerous reasons why Valentino Garavani was dubbed the “Last Emperor of Fashion.” His timeless, refined designs earned him decades of reverence within the fashion world. Following his passing in January, numerous celebrities and fashion industry figures reflected on his legacy and extraordinary impact.
The Devil Wears Prada 2 star and long-time Valentino muse, Anne Hathaway, paid tribute to the designer on Instagram, saying, “It has been my extraordinary honor to have known, loved, and been cared for by the great Valentino Garavani. He is a beloved, world-renowned Titan of a designer, but he was also my dear and cherished friend who … made my world so much brighter, grander and more delightful than I could have ever understood it to be.”
However, there is perhaps no more apt a place to reflect on his glamorous canon of designs and monumental influence than on the red carpet. From the 1960s to the 2000s, Valentino dressed some of the most revered starlets of their day, adding an undeniable touch of elegance to every event.
Jackie Kennedy Onassis, 1979 Met Gala
In a 1984 interview with W Magazine, Valentino stated that he owed “a big percentage of [his] fame” to Jackie Kennedy Onassis. From her second wedding to diplomatic visits, she often donned his garments, boosting his credibility among the a-list crowd. She also did so while attending the 1979 Met Gala. For this event, she opted for a simple, yet effective strapless black gown with a tiered skirt and matching shawl.
Jessica Lange, 1983 Academy Awards
While picking up her first Oscar in 1983 for Best Supporting Actress in Tootsie, Jessica Lange wore a sequined mint green Valentino dress, cut at the knees. It was an elegant and elevated look that marked one of the first appearances of Garavani’s designs at the Academy Awards, signalling his rise as a favorite among the starlets of classic cinema and their stylists.
Sophia Loren, 1991 Academy Awards
One of Valentino’s long-time friends, Sophia Loren, wore one of the designer’s dresses to the 1991 Academy Awards, where she was honored with the Academy Honorary Award for her lifetime contribution to cinema. Considered one of his most iconic red carpet looks, the dress featured an array of black sequins and lace detailing at the bust, with a sheer beaded panel and a matching shawl. It demonstrated the universal and timeless appeal of Valentino’s designs; not only could he masterfully dress the up-and-coming actresses of the day, but also industry legends.
Julia Roberts, 2001 Academy Awards
Perhaps one of Valentino’s most renowned gowns is the vintage black and white dress that Julia Roberts wore to the 2001 Academy Awards, where she won Best Actress for her role in Erin Brockovich. Sourced from the 1992 couture collection, the gown featured a black column body with a delicate, white stripe climbing up the dress and around the neckline. Adding a touch of drama is the tulle train draped behind her. In a 2008 interview with The Telegraph, Valentino cited the moment as a high point of his career, saying, “I have dressed so many people but …, the person that made me feel so very, very happy was Julia Roberts. When she got the Academy Award … I was so excited that she appeared in my dress.” Simple, yet incredibly beautiful and impeccably tailored, the dress helped cement Roberts as Hollywood royalty.
Halle Berry, 2002 Golden Globes
At the 59th Annual Golden Globes, where she was nominated for her performance in Monster’s Ball, actress Halle Berry appeared in a stunning chocolate-brown Valentino gown from the Fall/Winter 2001 couture collection. An incredibly romantic look, the dress featured a sheer tulle overlay with brown floral embroidery, a cut-out midriff, and ruched fabric around the bust. A flawless mixture of textures and fabrics, the dress highlighted Berry’s natural beauty and elegance, allowing her to truly shine.
Jennifer Lopez, 2003 Academy Awards
For the 2003 Academy Awards, Jennifer Lopez opted for a mint green, one-shoulder gown, with silver and green embroidery along the hem and sleeve. Modeled after another Valentino dress that Jackie Kennedy Onassis wore during a trip to Cambodia in 1967, Lopez’s version is considered one of the most iconic looks in the ceremony’s history. It helped solidify Valentino’s reputation as not only a master of classic silhouettes but also as a designer who could adapt his work to the trends and stars of the time.
Anne Hathaway, 2013 Met Gala
One of Valentino’s muses and collaborators later in his career, Anne Hathaway opted to wear a look from the 1994 couture collection while attending the “Punk: Chaos to Couture” Met Gala in 2013. The dress itself was sheer, except for sections of beaded stripes and ostrich feather cuffs and Hathaway, who had bleached her hair for the occasion, even brought along Valentino himself as her date. Although Valentino might not be what one would think of as having a “punk” or “edgy” aesthetic, the dress perfectly matched the theme, highlighting his versatility beyond classic glamor.
Zendaya, Euphoria Season Two Premiere, 2022
With archival-expert Law Roach as her stylist, it was only a matter of time before Zendaya would be seen in vintage Valentino. For the premiere of season two of her show Euphoria, she donned a black-and-white striped strapless gown from the Spring/Summer 1992 collection. Originally modeled by Linda Evangelista, the dress was incredibly striking, in both its simplicity and elegance. With thick vertical stripes that elongated Zendaya’s already-tall frame, the dress made her appear even more statuesque and lit the internet on fire, showing that Valentino still had resonance among the Gen Z audience.
There’s no denying Valentino’s timeless appeal. From working with Jackie O in the 1970s to having the actresses of the 2020s covet his vintage pieces, he will always be an influence and a force in fashion.
In an Instagram post paying tribute to the designer, legendary model Gisele Bündchen said, “Valentino was a true genius, an artist with a rare sensitivity and grace. I feel incredibly grateful that I had the opportunity to work with him, to know him, and to experience his kindness and generosity firsthand.”
For both those who worked closely with him and those who admired his designs from afar, it was clear that he was, as Gisele said, a “genius.” The way in which he could masterfully dress women of all ages, across more than forty years, is a skill that cannot be replicated, and his work made all of the red carpets shine a bit brighter.
