Mason Tran

He was born Valentino Garavani and named after the silent movie star Rudolf Valentino.

Dubbed an international arbiter of taste by Vogue, Valentino talked about his lifelong fixation with glamour in a 2008 documentary.

He was later known for red, his signature color.

Through his career, Valentino dressed movie stars as well as the millions of aspiring fashionistas that bought dresses, jeans, and handbags with a distinctive V monogram of his $1.3 billion brand.

For NPR News, I'm Mason Tran.