Donatella Versace arrived in Rome to say goodbye to Valentino Garavani and made a choice that immediately stopped people in their tracks. In a city wrapped in mourning and tradition, she didn’t fade into black. She stood tall in color, turning grief into a statement that spoke louder than words.
Versace was seen stepping into the Italian capital wearing a sharply cut bright red suit, tailored with precision and worn with absolute confidence. Matching platform heels amplified the look, while oversized black sunglasses shielded her eyes, adding a layer of distance and control. The styling was stripped back, almost austere, allowing the color itself to carry the message.
In a moment where black is the unspoken uniform, red could have felt jarring. Instead, it felt intentional. Measured. Deeply personal. The shade wasn’t chosen to provoke, but to remember.
Red is inseparable from Valentino Garavani’s legacy. The color became so closely associated with his vision that it evolved into a name of its own, Valentino red, later officially recognized by Pantone. It symbolized passion, elegance, and authority, and it defined decades of his work.
By wearing red to his funeral, Versace wasn’t drawing attention away from the man being honored. She was speaking his language. Valentino red dressed generations of women and became one of the most powerful visual signatures in fashion history. It stood for romance without softness and confidence without apology.
Her appearance reframed mourning into homage. It suggested that honoring a designer like Valentino doesn’t mean muting everything he stood for. It means embracing it fully, even at the most solemn moment.
Versace arrived arm in arm with Pierpaolo Piccioli, the former creative director of Valentino. Piccioli chose an all-black outfit paired with sneakers, modern and restrained. His look reflected quiet reflection, while Versace’s red carried memory and symbolism.
Together, they formed a striking contrast. Two approaches to respect. Two generations of Italian fashion. One shared loss. Piccioli helped lead Valentino into a new era, while Versace remains one of the few designers whose name carries similar global weight. Their presence side by side underlined the scale of the moment.
Valentino’s bond with red began early in his life. As a child, he was mesmerized by the opera Carmen, particularly the costumes and the way the color red filled the space around him. That image stayed with him.
In 1959, at his very first fashion show, he presented a poppy-colored dress that instantly captivated audiences. From that moment on, red became a constant thread in his collections, returning season after season in gowns that defined strength and refinement.
Valentino red was never about chasing fashion’s latest wave. It commanded attention effortlessly, projecting power and elegance without feeling overstated. From movie stars to royalty and high society, those who wore it helped turn the shade into a lasting symbol of timeless style.
Valentino Garavani is now lying in state in Rome, with funeral services set to take place tomorrow. He passed away at his home on Monday at the age of 93. Since news of his death became public, messages of admiration and remembrance have arrived from around the globe, underscoring just how profoundly he shaped the world of fashion.
Versace herself shared a personal message shortly after his death, calling him a maestro and extending her thoughts to Giancarlo Giammetti, his longtime partner and collaborator. Her words echoed what her appearance in Rome already said.
In red, Donatella Versace reminded everyone that fashion can express grief, gratitude, and memory when language falls short. It wasn’t defiance. It was devotion.
