“Today, Italy mourns the loss of a legend…” she expressed.

He remarked that Valentino had “expanded the horizons of possibility, traversing the globe with a unique sensibility, quiet discipline, and an unending passion for beauty.”

A pivotal encounter occurred in 1964 when he met Jackie Kennedy.

Valentino revolutionized Jackie Kennedy’s style, and in 1968, she chose an ivory lace dress from his renowned white collection for her wedding to Greek shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis.

This choice caused a significant stir in the United States, and by 1970, Valentino had become the first Italian designer to establish a store in New York. Throughout the years, he elevated the “Made in Italy” brand to international acclaim.

Valentino transformed Jackie Kennedy’s wardrobe, and in 1968 she picked an ivory-coloured lace dress from his famous white collection for her second marriage to Greek shipping mogul Aristotle Onassis. Source: Getty / PL Gould

It caused a sensation in the United States, and in 1970, Valentino was the first Italian designer to open a shop in New York. Over the years he would elevate the “Made in Italy” label to global prominence.