The fashion designer Renato Balestra, the doyen of haute couture, died last night in Rome at the age of 98.

The sad news for ANSA was announced by his daughters Fabiana and Federica together with granddaughter Sofia, who will take over the management of the brand. The funeral will take place on Tuesday, November 29 in the capital of Italy in the church of Santa Maria del Popolo.

With the passing of Renato Balestra, our nation loses its style excellence, dean of high fashion and symbol of Italian genius in the world. Sincere e sentite condoglianze alla sua famiglia ea tutti i suoi cari. pic.twitter.com/zTf0RSctvF

- Giorgia Meloni (@GiorgiaMeloni) November 26st

Balestra designed clothes for Hollywood divas Sophia Loren and Ava Gardner, quickly becoming one of the most respected stylists of the big stars of Hollywood cinema.

Balestra arrived in the world of fashion almost by accident. His friends from the Technical Faculty asked him to design a women's dress for a bet, but then without his knowledge they sent the sketch to a high fashion house in Milan, who immediately invited him to collaborate with them.

And that was the beginning of the unstoppable rise.