Vintage Valentino Clothing
A brief bio of Valentino
Valentino Clemente Ludovico Garavani was born on May 11, 1932 in Voghera, Italy. His first experience with fashion was as an apprentice for his aunt Rosa and a local designer named Ernestina Salvadeo. At the age of 17, Valentino moved to Paris and studied at the Ecole des Beaux Arts and the Chambre Syndicate de la Couture Parisienne. His early work experience was with fashion greats including Jacques Fath, Balenciaga Jean Desses and Guy Laroche.
In 1959 Valentino moved back to Rome and opened an opulent fashion house and it was during that time that he became known for his signature Valentino Red or Rosso Valentino. In 1960, Valentino met Giancarlo Giammetti, who would become his partner and bring his business expertise to the new fashion house. Valentino's first international show followed soon thereafter and was met with rave reviews.
By the mid 60's Valentino's reputation was secure as an Italian couturier and in 1967, he won the coveted Neiman Marcus award for fashion.
Valentino has dressed some of the world's most famous fashion minded women including the Countess Jacqueline de Ribes, New York Socialite Babe Paley, Lee Radziwill, Queen Paola of Belgium, Elizabeth Taylor, Audrey Hepburn, Gloria Guinness, Sophia Loren, Marella Agnelli, Marisa Berenson, and Princess Margaret. Valentino designed the wedding dress that made world headlines when Jacqueline Kennedy married Aristotle Onassis. Jackie continued to wear Valentino designs throughout her life. In more recent years, Valentino has dressed Princess Diana, Gwyneth Paltrow, Julia Roberts, Halle Barry and Cindy Crawford.
Valentino and his partner Giancarlo sold the company in 1998.
This is just the tip of the Valentino iceberg and there is a so much more to know about this fashoin icon! If you haven't seen it yet, watch the movie The Last Emporer, a film about Valentino and the disappearing craft of the fashion couturier.I encourage you to read more about Valentino's life and work to fully appreciate the importance of his contributions to the fashion world!
