STORY: The coffin of the late Italian fashion designer Valentino Garavani arrived on Monday (January 21) at the headquarters of his foundation in Rome for the lying in state, welcomed by his loved ones and a queue of Roman residents waiting to pay their respects.

Valentino, who died on Monday (January 19) at the age of 93, scaled the heights of haute couture, creating one of the country's most celebrated luxury houses and introducing a new colour to the fashion world, the so-called 'Valentino Red'.

Waiting for the coffin were two long-time partners of the late designer: Giancarlo Giammetti, who founded the fashion house together with Garavani, and Vernon Bruce Hoeksema, former model and fashion entrepreneur.

Among those queuing to pay their last respects to Valentino was Japanese designer Yukie Yokoo, who worked for the brand in both Japan and Italy.

Speaking to Reuters, Yokoo recalled her first meeting with Valentino, when she asked him for a job. "Exactly one week later, he called me and said: come right away," she said.

The lying in state will last until Thursday (January 22), while the funeral will take place in Rome on Friday (January 23) at 11 a.m. (1000 GMT), said Valentino's foundation.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

Romans honour late designer Valentino Garavani as his coffin arrives for lying in state

VIDEO SHOWS: COFFIN OF LATE ITALIAN FASHION DESIGNER, VALENTINO GARAVANI, ARRIVES AT FOUNDATION HEADQUARTERS FOR LYING IN STATE / COMMENTS FROM MOURNERS

RESENDING WITH FULL SCRIPT

SHOWS: ROME, ITALY (JANUARY 21, 2026) (REUTERS - Access all)

1. HEARSE CARRYING VALENTINO'S COFFIN ARRIVING AT FOUNDATION HEADQUARTERS

2. PERSON LOOKING FROM WINDOW

3. HEARSE ARRIVING AT FOUNDATION HEADQUARTERS

4. VARIOUS OF VALENTINO'S LONG-TIME PARTNER, GIANCARLO GIAMMETTI, STANDING

5. PERSON LOOKING FROM WINDOW

6. VARIOUS OF PEOPLE HUGGING VALENTINO'S PARTNER, BRUCE HOEKSEMA

7. PEOPLE STANDING BY HEARSE

8. VALENTINO'S COFFIN BEING CARRIED INSIDE FOUNDATION HEADQUARTERS

9. WREATH BEING CARRIED INSIDE FOUNDATION HEADQUARTERS

10. STAFF STANDING

11. VARIOUS OF MOURNERS WALKING TO FOUNDATION HEADQUARTERS

12. WINDOW OF VALENTINO'S BOUTIQUE COVERED IN BLACK, READING (English): "I love beauty. It's not my fault. Valentino Garavani"

13. (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) ITALIAN DIRECTOR, EMANUELA DEL ZOMPO, SAYING:

"Yes, I feel a deep sense of anguish, let's say nostalgia, for this great man, this great artist, because he was an all-round artist."

14. VARIOUS OF MOURNERS QUEUING

15. (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) ROMAN RESIDENTS, GIULIA AND GIOVANNI (NO SURNAME GIVEN), SAYING:

GIULIA: "It's a sad mood today, unfortunately. All the greats have gone, most of them this year, or rather last year. I feel sorry for him and for all of us."

JOURNALIST: "What thoughts will you have when you see him?"

GIOVANNI: "That another icon as great as him will be born, one of the four pillars of Italy, together with Armani who has passed away, together with Ferre, great, together with Versace, poor man, hoping that there will be some young people."

16. VARIOUS OF MOURNERS QUEUING

17. (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) ROMAN RESIDENT, GIULIANO CALCAGNI, SAYING:

"Well, the city of Rome, like the rest of Italy, has lost a great interpreter of beauty. In short, Valentino can be associated with the beauty of Rome."

18. FORMER VALENTINO DESIGNER FROM JAPAN, YUKIE YOKOO, WALKING TO FOUNDATION

19. (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) FORMER VALENTINO DESIGNER FROM JAPAN, YUKIE YOKOO, SAYING:

"His professionalism, but also very human, like a Japanese girl who knew him, but waiting at the entrance, asked: I want to work with you. He said: OK, I'll let you know in a week. Exactly one week later, he called me and said, come right away. So I started working here, you know? It's just the right opportunity."

20. YOKOO WAITING IN QUEUE

21. EXTERIOR OF VALENTINO CREATIVE HEADQUARTERS

22. MOURNERS WAITING IN QUEUE

23. FLOWERS BEING CARRIED

24. INSTALLATION OUTSIDE VALENTINO CREATIVE HEADQUARTERS