Valentino: Anna Wintour and Liz Hurley among mourners at fashion designer’s funeral

Anna Wintour, Elizabeth Hurley and Anne Hathaway were among the fashion and film stars who gathered in Rome for the funeral of Italian fashion designer Valentino Garavani on Friday.

The service was held at the Basilica of Saint Mary of the Angels and Martyrs, near Piazza della Repubblica, following two days of public viewing at his foundation’s headquarters.

Garavani, known universally by his first name Valentino, died aged 93 at his home in Rome on Monday.

Hathaway wore a black Valentino coat trimmed with ruffles, while Elizabeth Hurley attended with her son Damian – a day after giving evidence in her case at the UK High Court against the The Dailynewspaper’s publisher.

Fellow fashion designers Donatella Versace and Tom Ford were also present.

Outside the basilica, crowds gathered to pay their respects, many holding red ribbons in homage to the designer’s signature colour – “Valentino red”.

Across a career that began in the 1950s, Valentino became synonymous with dressing the rich and famous, and Hollywood royalty.

His clients included Jackie Kennedy, Elizabeth Taylor and Diana, Princess of Wales, while his gowns became red-carpet fixtures for Julia Roberts, Cate Blanchett and Sharon Stone.

White roses and lilies surrounded the coffin as it was carried into the basilica to the sound of Mozart.

Valentino will be cremated, with his ashes interred at Rome’s Flaminio Cemetery.

Although he retired in 2008, the label’s next couture show at the end of January in Paris is expected to double as a final industry salute to a designer often described as the last emperor of Italian fashion.