21/01/2026

LYFE WEDNESDAY | JAN 21, 2026

/thesuntelegram FOLLOW / Malaysian Paper

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One final homage

o Fashion fraternity pays tribute to Valentino Garavani T RIBUTES poured in earlier this week for Valentino Garavani, the Italian designer who dressed some of the world’s most elegant women, following his death aged 93. “This feels like the end of an era. He will be deeply missed,” wrote actor Gwyneth Paltrow on Instagram, alongside a photo of her kissing Valentino on the cheek. She recalled a man “in love with beauty, his family, his muses, his friends” – and who “always pestered me to ‘at least wear a little mascara’ when I came to dinner”. Valentino’s death comes just months after the passing of another Italian style legend Giorgio Armani and tributes came from the global fashion world and beyond. “Today, we lost a true maestro who will forever be remembered for his art,” wrote Donatella Versace on Instagram. Supermodel Cindy Crawford said she was “heartbroken”, saying Valentino was “a true master of his craft”. Sophia Loren recalled his “kind soul, full of humanity”, in a

Valentino (left) and

Crawford on July 8, 1997 prior to his 1997/98 Fall/Winter high fashion collection in Paris.

Rare sensibility Valentino’s director Alessandro Michele celebrated him as “a central figure in the history of Italian culture”. He said Valentino had “widened the boundaries of what is possible, crossing the world with a rare sensibility, a silent rigour and an unbounded love of beauty”. French luxury giant Kering CEO Luca de Meo praised him as “an exceptional creator” who “embodied a sense of style that has profoundly shaped our collective imagination”. Kering took a 30% stake in the Valentino brand in 2023, with the rest owned by Qatar investment fund Mayhoola. Meeting Jackie Kennedy Valentino was born on May 11, 1932, in Voghera, a small town south of Milan. His father owned an electric cables business. After training and working in Paris, he opened his own fashion house in 1960 in Rome. A meeting with Jackie Kennedy in 1964 would prove decisive for his career. He transformed her 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. It caused a sensation in the US, 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, assisted by his lover Giancarlo Giammetti. The London department store Harrods celebrated him in a statement as “one of the last true titans of fashion”. – AFP creative

statement carried by Italian news agency Ansa. “You were a friend and your art and passion will forever remain a source of inspiration,” she wrote. The Last Emperor One of the top designers of his era, Valentino’s creations were worn by the who’s who of the international elite, from Elizabeth Taylor and Nancy Reagan through to Sharon Stone and Julia Roberts. He was best known for his gowns in deep rich “Valentino red”. “Valentino Garavani passed away today at his Roman residence, surrounded by his loved ones,” his foundation said in a statement. A funeral is planned for Friday in the Italian capital and there will be a lying in state at his company headquarters near the Spanish Steps today and Thursday. On the catwalk and in his own life, Valentino exuded luxury down to the last detail of his immaculate hairdo and caramel tan, often photographed with his pug dogs at his side. Dubbed “The Last Emperor” in a 2008 film about his life and his final collection, he dressed generations of the world’s rich and powerful. He was responsible for some of the most iconic red carpet outfits, notably the black-and-white dress worn by Roberts when she won an Oscar in 2001 for her performance in Erin Brockovich . “He was the creator of a refined, radiant and sumptuous fashion, defined by generous draping, which he inseparably wove together with cinema,” said LVMH luxury group CEO and chairman Bernard Arnault.

Valentino prior to being awarded with a medal of Commander of the Order of Arts and Letters by French Minister of Culture and Communications on Oct 10, 2012. – ALL PICS FROM AFP

BEAUTY REVIEWS

Ű BY ASHIQIN AHMAD

Carlo Rino Oligopeptide repair serum THE repair serum is designed to support skin regeneration and improve elasticity, but it falls short in execution. The texture is heavier than expected and takes time to absorb, leaving a noticeable film on the skin that may not suit those with oily or combination skin. While the inclusion of oligopeptides suggests long term anti ageing benefits, the formulation feels underwhelming in performance. Hydration is minimal and it does not noticeably improve skin texture or radiance with regular use. Additionally , the presence o f fragrance may be irritating f o r

Oddly purity shower oil THIS shower oil brings the spa experience to the comfort of your home. Ingredients such as coconut oil, sweet almond oil, habbatus sauda (black cumin seed) deeply cleanse while keeping the skin fully hydrated. Once it is lathered on, you are supposed to leave it on for a few minutes, so take this time to pamper yourself with a hair mask or jam to your music. You will notice immediately how soft it leaves your skin once you wash it off and leaves a dewy-like affect afterwards. The only downside is this could be a textural issue to some as the liquid oil solidifies when in contact with water and takes some effort to lather onto the skin. The fragrance is also heavily scented with essential oils and habbatus sauda which gives it a Skinmade better skin perfect tint THIS skin tint is made to heal your skin with every wear, complete with SPF 50 to protect the skin from UVA and UVB rays. From the first application, the soft-blurring tint evens tone, minimises pores and gives skin that natural, perfected finish. Formula wise, it is a bit of a hit or miss. The dewy finish of the skin tint leaves your skin looking healthy and hydrated but that also means it is not as sweatproof as it claims to be, resulting in patchiness in sweat-prone areas even after setting it with powder.

medicinal scent and may be off-putting to some people. Implement this product as a part of your shower routine to heal your skin and you will be amazed by the results. This oil retails for RM109 for 150ml. Rating: 4/5 It has a grainy feel when first applied on skin, which could be the minerals from the sunscreen, but slowly disappears as you rub it in. If it wants to truly cater

sensitive skin types a n d detracts from its otherwise promising ingredient prof i l e . Overall, it f e e l s m o r e cosmetic

to the Malaysian market, it also have to improve on the shade range which is only limited to four options for now. However, a bonus point is the tint does not oxidise after it dries. All in all, this skin tint is

than treatment focused and does not deliver results strong enough to justify regular use. This serum retails for RM179 for 40g. Rating: 2/5

up to par on others in the market but not really something to write home about. This tint retails for RM248 for 30ml. Rating:3/5

Valentino after his show on Oct 12, 2003 in Paris for the ready-to-wear Spring/Summer 2004 collections.