valentino

Before launching his fashion industry and creating his own haute couture house, Valentino worked for several designers who enabled him to acquire the required knowledge and skills in order to succeed in the fashion world. 

Valentino Clemente Ludovico Garavani, famous under his first name “Valentino”, born in 1932 in Voghera (northern Italy), is a great Italian fashion designer.

Valentino built his reputation in the world of luxury clothing thanks to his passion for art and architecture and over years of experience in the fashion industry. His style attracted many It girls of all generations, including Mrs. Jackie Kennedy and Julia Roberts.

Creation of the Brand

Valentino had the brilliant idea to leave his native country in order to study tailoring in Paris.

Since he interested the French designer, Jean Dessès, who hired him when he was only 18 years old. Valentino designed clothing collections for Dessès during five years. After that, he started to work for Guy Laroche, another fashion designer.

When he acquired enough experience in the fashion industry. Valentino took off and created his own label, in 1960, with his partner Giancarlo Giammetti, at that time.

The Italian stylist became famous by being the costume designer for the movie La Dolce Vita, directed by Federico Fellini. His first designs dressed and sublimated the silhouette of the female movie stars. Moreover, Valentino's talent did not go unnoticed and enabled him to open his very first ready-to-wear clothing shop in Rome.

Valentino's style

The Italian designer makes use of colors namely black and white, and enhances elegant and refined cuts in order to flatter women curves.

However, he made himself known with the bright red dresses’ line, which he named "red Valentino" color. This color became, thereafter, his signature.

The logo of the brand

The logo of the brand “Valentino” was created, in 1968. It took the shape of the letter “V”, in reference to the designer's first name.

Famous dresses by Valentino

In the same year, the renowned designer had the privilege to design and create Jackie Kennedy's wedding dress for her marriage with Aristotle Onassis.

After that, Valentino established new ready-to-wear outlets in Rome and then in New York.

In 1990 Lady Di starred on the cover of Vogue UK magazine, dressed up with the famous red Valentino gown.

In 2001, Julia Roberts appeared at the Oscars wearing a long black and white dress by Valentino. In fact, she won an Oscar that day for playing Erin Brocovitch.

Valentino, now

In 1998, the HDP Group (Holding Desmet Pascal) bought the fashion house Valentino, and then in 2002, the Marzotto Group purchased it. However, the Italian designer remained within the company as the creative director. He approved and influenced business decisions related to the brand’s image.

Valentino left the creative direction of the company, in 2007. Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pierpaolo Piccioli replaced him. Today, the designer Piccioli as a sole creative director maintains the style of the Valentino House. Maria Chiuri, on the other hand, is currently working at Dior.

Nevertheless, Valentino is still handling some special orders. He designed Anne Hathaway's wedding dress in 2012, himself. He also made the costumes for the main characters of the Opera La Traviata.

Although the top designer Valentino sure did quit the fashion label and is now living peacefully away from the spotlights; however, he did not totally bow out of the haute couture world.