30 January, 2026, 4:44 pm Central - 30°C Rain

Anna Wintour and Liz Hurley among mourners at Valentino's funeral

Anna Wintour and Liz Hurley among mourners at Valentino's funeral

By fijivillage
26/01/2026
Photo: BBC Fashion

Anna Wintour, Elizabeth Hurley and Anne Hathaway were among the fashion and film stars who gathered in Rome for the funeral of Italian fashion designer Valentino Garavani on Friday.



The service was held at the Basilica of Saint Mary of the Angels and Martyrs, near Piazza della Repubblica, following two days of public viewing at his foundation's headquarters.

Garavani, known universally by his first name Valentino, died aged 93 at his home in Rome on Monday.

Hathaway wore a black Valentino coat trimmed with ruffles, while Elizabeth Hurley attended with her son Damian - a day after giving evidence in her case at the UK High Court against the Daily Mail newspaper's publisher.




Fellow fashion designers Donatella Versace and Tom Ford were also present.

Outside the basilica, crowds gathered to pay their respects, many holding red ribbons in homage to the designer's signature colour - "Valentino red".




Across a career that began in the 1950s, Valentino became synonymous with dressing the rich and famous, and Hollywood royalty.

His clients included Jackie Kennedy, Elizabeth Taylor and Diana, Princess of Wales, while his gowns became red-carpet fixtures for Julia Roberts, Cate Blanchett and Sharon Stone.




White roses and lilies surrounded the coffin as it was carried into the basilica to the sound of Mozart.

Valentino will be cremated, with his ashes interred at Rome's Flaminio Cemetery.



Although he retired in 2008, the label's next couture show at the end of January in Paris is expected to double as a final industry salute to a designer often described as the last emperor of Italian fashion


.

FEATURE NEWS
All roads led to UB40 ft Ali Campbell and Katchafire for Suva and NZ family
A Suva and New Zealand family have been planning their outing for the last couple of months around the UB40 featuring Ali Campbell Big Love Tour with ...
9 minutes ago
LATEST NEWS
Free eye surgery brings hope to children with strabismus
The Sri Sathya Sai Sanjeevani Children's Hospital, in partnership with the CWM Hospital Eye Department, provided a one-day free corrective eye ...
27 minutes ago

MOU signed between Oceania Hospital and University of Fiji
A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the University of Fiji and Oceania Hospital to allow medical students from the University to get ...
41 minutes ago

20 business linked to foreign worker rights breaches - Bernard
Around 20 of the 740 businesses currently employing foreign workers in Fiji have been linked to breaches of workers’ rights.This was revealed by ...
43 minutes ago

Higher Education Comm orders immediate shutdown and registration of all student recruitment agencies
The Higher Education Commission has given the directive that all student recruitment agencies operating in Fiji cease operations immediately and ...
50 minutes ago

Former WAF worker jailed for 3 years over corrupt sale of water tanks
A former Water Authority of Fiji (WAF) employee has been sentenced to three years’ imprisonment by the Nadi Magistrates Court for a ...
2 hours ago



Stay tuned for the latest news on our radio stations

CFL radio frequencies
IN DEPTH
Ailava Samuels to represent Fiji in Miss Pacific Pageant
Miss Fiji 2025 first runner-up and Miss Nasinu, Ailava Samuels, has been officially appointed as Fiji’s representative to next month's Miss ...
8 days ago

Referendum Bill risks undermining democracy - Dialogue Fiji
The National Referendum Bill risks undermining democracy by criminalising political expression, enabling state overreach and excluding young people ...
10 days ago

Shocking move : FNU reassigned under PM
The Fiji National University is being reassigned under the Prime Minister's Office Ministerial Portfolio via the Ministry of Strategic Planning, ...
10 days ago

TOP