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Valentino Garavani, the jet-set Italian designer whose high-glamour gowns — often in his trademark shade of “Valentino red” — were fashion show staples for nearly half a century, has died at home in Rome, his foundation announced Monday. He was 93. “Valentino Garavani was not only a constant guide and inspiration for all of us, but a true source of light, creativity and vision,″ the foundation said in a statement posted on social media. His body will repose at the foundation’s headquarters in Rome on Wednesday and Thursday. The funeral will be held Friday at the Basilica Santa Maria degli Angeli e dei Martiri in Rome’s Piazza della Repubblica. Universally known by his first name, Valentino was adored by generations of royals, first ladies and movie stars, from Jackie Kennedy Onassis to Julia Roberts and Queen Rania of Jordan, who swore the designer always made them look and feel their best. Italian fashion designer Valentino Garavani walks the catwalk with his models after a fashion show on October 20, 1991 in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Remy de la Mauviniere, File) “I know what women want,” he once remarked. “They want to be beautiful.” Never one for edginess or statement dressing, Valentino made precious few fashion faux-pas throughout his nearly half-century-long career, which stretched from his early days in Rome in the 1960s through to his retirement in 2008. FILE – Models join the public in clapping hands as they flank Italian fashion designer Valentino Garavani at the end of the show of his spring-summer collection in Rome, Italy on Jan. 20, 1971. (AP Photo/Gianni Foggia, File) His fail-safe designs made Valentino the king of the red carpet, the go-to man for A-listers’ awards ceremony needs. His sumptuous gowns have graced countless Academy Awards, notably in 2001, when Roberts wore a vintage black and white column to accept her best actress statue. Cate Blanchett also wore Valentino — a one-shouldered number in butter-yellow silk — when she won the Oscar for best supporting actress in 2004. Valentino was also behind the long-sleeved lace dress Jacqueline Kennedy wore for her wedding to Greek shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis in 1968. Kennedy and Valentino were close friends for decades, and for a spell the one-time U.S. first lady wore almost exclusively Valentino. Italian fashion designer Valentino Garavani, left, waves to the public and holds by the hand American actress Sharon Stone wearing a wedding gown at the end of Valentino’s 1994 Spring/Summer ready-to-wear collection in Paris October 13, 1993. (AP Photo/Lionel Cironneau, File) He was also close to Diana, Princess of Wales, who often donned his sumptuous gowns. Beyond his signature orange-tinged shade of red, other Valentino trademarks included bows, ruffles, lace and embroidery; in short, feminine, flirty embellishments that added to the dresses’ beauty and hence to that of the wearers. Italian fashion designer Valentino Garavani with model Yasmeen Ghauri during his Fall Winter 1991-1992 fashion show. (David Lefranc/Kipa/Sygma via Getty Images file) Perpetually tanned and always impeccably dressed, Valentino shared the lifestyle of his jet-set patrons. In addition to his 152-foot yacht and an art collection including works by Picasso and Miro, the couturier owned a 17th-century chateau near Paris with a garden said to boast more than a million roses. Valentino and his longtime partner Giancarlo Giammetti flitted among their homes — which also included places in New York, London, Rome, Capri and Gstaad, Switzerland — traveling with their pack of pugs. The pair regularly received A-list friends and patrons, including Madonna and Gwyneth Paltrow. Fashion 3 hours ago Milan Fashion Week: Five trends and buzzwords from menswear previews for next winter Business Dec 2, 2025 Prada acquires fashion rival Versace in a deal worth nearly $1.4 billion “When I see somebody and unfortunately she’s relaxed and running around in jogging trousers and without any…

The Chicago Bears’ season has come to a close, and while the team isn’t ready to talk about their future yet, one storyline continues to linger for fans: the new stadium. Will the Bears stay in Illinois? The unexpected change in direction took a back seat to the team’s Cinderella season, but now, many are wondering: what’s next? Here’s a look at where things stand: Arlington Heights issues letter Two days before the Chicago Bears were set to play the Los Angeles Rams at Soldier Field, Arlington Heights officials made their most urgent push yet to bring the Bears’ stadium to the village, after the team’s surprise announcement last month that it was considering other locations, including northwest Indiana. “We are in a clutch situation, and what we do right now will determine what comes next for Illinois,” Arlington Heights Mayor Jim Tinaglia wrote in a letter Friday to state lawmakers. “The team has been clear that at this point their choices are either the Arlington Heights site or Indiana.” The purpose of the letter was to urge the Illinois General Assembly to pass a “mega projects” bill, which would grant major tax breaks to developers and companies to help facilitate large-scale developments. Tinaglia reiterated that the team is not asking for taxpayer money to build a new stadium at the site of the former Arlington Park racetrack. Instead, the Bears would invest their own money to build a new $5 billion stadium, next to a new mixed-use entertainment district. The team would work directly with taxing bodies, including schools, to set taxing structures. The mayor said all three affected local school districts are in favor of a new mega projects bill. “This would be the largest private development project in the history of Illinois,” he wrote. New renderings show potential Indiana stadium Last week, the city of Gary, Indiana, released renderings of what a Bears stadium in the area could look like. On a website called “bearstadiumdistrict.com,” the city shared renderings of its “bold vision for a new Bears Stadium District” anchored by the I-80 and I-94 corridor in northwest Indiana. Conceptual renderings of the stadium also show plans for a promenade and mixed-use district in the area. Where exactly the stadium would be located within Gary is still undecided. “With three strategically positioned site options, we are ready to build a world-class destination that celebrates sports, culture, and community,” the website says. Courtesy: City of Gary, Indiana Courtesy: City of Gary, Indiana Courtesy: City of Gary, Indiana What has the team said? Bears President and CEO Kevin Warren announced the team would be exploring moving outside of Illinois in mid-December in an open letter to fans. Though the team has not made any decisions on where the team could land, and sources told NBC Chicago that Hammond, Wolf Lake and Gary were all potential locations being considered. Last week, the Bears sent out a survey to a large selection of fans asking their feelings on the possibility of a move to Indiana or Arlington Heights. The team said this is a normal part of the process of building a new stadium. The Bears are lobbying for the ability to create a Payment in Lieu of Taxes, or PILOT, program, meaning they would be able to negotiate an annual payment with Arlington Heights officials in lieu of a standard property tax assessment and payment. “We asked only for a commitment to essential local infrastructure (roads, utilities, and site improvements) which is more than typical for projects of this size,” Warren wrote. “Additionally, we sought reasonable property tax certainty to secure financing. We listened to state leadership and relied on their direction and guidance, yet our efforts have been met with no legislative partnership.” What are Illinois lawmakers saying? On Jan. 6, House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch…

A pileup involving as many as 100 cars was reported Monday, shutting down a western Michigan highway and leaving many drivers stranded in dangerous weather conditions. The Ottawa County Sheriff’s office reported a multi-vehicle crash just before noon on I-196 near 64th Avenue in Zeeland Township, located about 25 miles southwest of Grand Rapids. The crash shut down I-196 in both directions between Hudsonville and Zeeland, leaving many drivers stranded. Buses from Hudsonville Public Schools were being used to transport stranded drivers from the scene to Hudsonville High School, the sheriff’s office said. “Motorists currently stranded on scene should remain inside their vehicles until they are able to board a bus for transportation to Hudsonville High School,” the department wrote. “We are asking the public to avoid driving today, especially in this area, due to hazardous conditions.” NBC affiliate station WOOD-TV reported the crash involved as many as 100 vehicles, and “includes several jack-knifed semi-trucks.” Images purportedly of the scene showed several semis in ditches and crashed vehicles on snowy roadways. The National Weather Service had warned Monday that “travel is not recommended near and west of US 131 this morning into the afternoon.” “This especially includes I-196,” the agency wrote on X. “Whiteouts, slide offs and multi car accidents have been observed on major roads via MDOT webcams as lake effect snow bands and blowing snow are occurring.” Snowfall rates of up to a half-inch per hour were reported. WOOD-TV reported “numerous” injuries were reported at the scene, “though none are known to be fatal at this time.” Check back for more on this developing story. This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.

The disgraced former prince's likely home Marsh Farm at Wolferton on the Sandringham estate is surrounded by land below sea level, according to the Royal family's own website.

Esther Ghey, whose daughter was killed at the age of 16 by two 15-year-olds, urged the Prime Minister to support the introduction of new restrictions.