Valentino Garavani Passes at 93
Valentino Garavani, the legendary Italian couturier and founder of the Valentino fashion house, passed away at age 93 on Monday. His funeral took place today, attended by the new creative director of the house, Alessandro Michele, Donatella Versace, Tom Ford, and more. The Roman designer launched his label in 1960 and swiftly achieved global acclaim, dressing European royalty, American first ladies, and a multitude of Hollywood icons. Renowned for his opulent yet refined aesthetic, including gowns in his signature shade of “Valentino red”, he became synonymous with Italian glamour and timeless elegance. His eponymous house soon attracted devotees like Elizabeth Taylor and Sophia Loren, and when former First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy wore a Valentino white lace gown for her 1968 wedding to Aristotle Onassis, it sealed his status as a couturier to high society. Over a nearly five-decade career, Valentino amassed numerous accolades, from France’s Légion d’Honneur in 2006 to honors from the CFDA, reflecting his profound international influence. Supermodels like Naomi Campbell and Claudia Schiffer were often seen wearing his creations off the catwalk, a testament to his reverence in the modeling world. He cultivated close friendships with fashion luminaries; Vogue editor André Leon Talley, a dear friend, once praised Valentino’s work as “some of the finest ever.” Fellow designers, like Karl Lagerfeld, Giorgio Armani, and Miuccia Prada, revered him for his peerless craftsmanship and grace. Valentino’s passing marks the end of an era in haute couture, but the couture emperor’s legacy of glamour endures as a symbol of style whose influence will inspire generations to come. [Models.com]
Giambattista Valli Skips Couture Week
Giambattista Valli will not stage a haute couture show on Monday for his Paris-based brand. According to WWD market sources, the label’s parent company, Artémis, the private investment arm of the François Pinault family, has been exploring a potential sale in recent months, with the process led by banking firm Rothschild & Co.. Born in Rome, Valli launched his namesake brand in Paris in 2005 after spending seven years designing ready-to-wear alongside Emanuel Ungaro. Prior to that, he held positions at Roberto Capucci, Fendi, and Krizia in Italy. Paris Couture Week runs from January 26 to 29, with Dior and Chanel set to present debut collections under new creative directors Jonathan Anderson and Matthieu Blazy, respectively. [WWD]
Visual Talent Ltd Taps Alastair McKimm
Visual Talent Ltd has appointed Alastair McKimm as chief creative officer, the British media company behind titles including Wonderland Magazine, Man About Town, and Rollacoaster Magazine announced on Thursday. McKimm and Visual Talent Ltd chairman and chief executive Peter Jones have also co-founded Prototype_ magazine alongside a new creative agency, VTG Studios, which will focus on branded content, partnerships, and events. The joint venture is based in New York. The biannual print publication will center on fashion and culture, with its first issue scheduled to launch later this year. [BoF]
Kaia Gerber Joins Re/Done as Investor and Creative Partner
Harper’s Bazaar U.S. February cover star Kaia Gerber is turning her focus to a new side of the fashion industry as she joins RE/DONE as an investor, creative partner, and advisory board member. Gerber will collaborate closely with the Los Angeles-based denim brand’s leadership and design teams on brand strategy, collection development, and campaign creative direction. “I’ve loved being part of Re/Done’s journey, and I’m excited to help shape what comes next, creating products and stories that feel personal, intentional, and deeply connected to today’s generation,” Gerber said. The model and actress is set to release new collaborative designs alongside reissued archival pieces with Re/Done in summer 2026. [BoF]
Moncler Group Appoints Bartolomeo Rongone as CEO
Moncler Group has appointed Bartolomeo Rongone as chief executive officer, effective April 1, following his departure from Bottega Veneta on March 31. The company announced on Tuesday that Remo Ruffini will transition from CEO to executive chairman. In his new role, Ruffini will retain responsibility for Moncler’s creative direction and continue to play a central role in the group’s governance and long-term strategic vision. Rongone joins Moncler after six years at Kering–owned Bottega Veneta. Prior to that, he served as chief operating officer at Saint Laurent and held roles at LVMH-owned Fendi. [WWD]
Jonathan Anderson’s Second Act at Dior Men F/W 26
Jonathan Anderson presented his second menswear collection for Dior Men, presenting a show built on unlikely pairings and inspired by Paul Poiret. Presented at the Rodin Museum, with styling by Benjamin Bruno, the collection emphasized structured suits, crystallized military epaulettes, and bar jackets as models rocked neon yellow mullets and anime hair by Guido Palau. Models.com brings you backstage with Sonny Vandevelde. Click the link here to read more.
MDC Selects: These New Faces Talk Daily Rituals, Creative Passions, and Cultural Roots
These new faces talk about daily rituals, creative passions, and cultural roots. Want to see their answers and find out where they’re from? Click the link here.
See What the Models Wore Off-Duty During PFWM F/W 26 Days 1&2
Street-style is back, look at what all the models wore during Paris Men’s F/W 26 on days 1&2 photographed by Melodie Jeng here.
And don’t forget our men’s fashion week content, starting off with a Day In the Life with Noah Herbst at Giorgio Armani and Mohamed Hassan at Louis Vuitton.
