Category: Arts & Culture
- In full:
- Valentino Clemente Ludovico Garavani
- Subjects Of Study:
- “Valentino: The Last Emperor”
Valentino, (born May 11, 1932, Voghera, Italy), Italian fashion designer known for garments in his trademark “Valentino red” (rosso Valentino) and whose style was described as jet-set chic.
As a child, Valentino was interested in both fashion and art. In 1949 he left his home in Voghera, a small town between Turin and Milan, to study fashion sketching at Milan’s Santa Maria Institute. He also enrolled in a Berlitz French course, which proved useful when in 1949 he moved to Paris to attend the École des Beaux-Arts and to study fashion at a school run by the Chambre Syndicale, the French fashion governing body. At that time the Paris fashion scene was a hostile environment for foreigners, particularly Italians. But Valentino won a competition for fashion design run by the International Wool Secretariat (the same prize that Yves Saint Laurent and Karl Lagerfeld won in subsequent years), and his prize led to a job at the French couture house of Jean Dessès.
In 1957 Guy Laroche, an illustrator at Dessès, decided to set up his own fashion house, and Valentino worked with him for two years. In 1959 Valentino returned to Rome and, with the financial backing of his father, presented his first collection in his own salon on Via Condotti. Elizabeth Taylor, who was in Rome shooting Cleopatra at the time, spotted Valentino’s work and placed her order for a white dress, which she wore for the world premiere of Spartacus. Valentino’s fate was sealed. In 1960 Valentino met Giancarlo Giametti, an architecture student, who became his partner in charge of the commercial side of the business. Valentino debuted his first couture fashion line in 1962 at the Pitti Palace in Florence and began to establish an international reputation. Well-known personalities soon sought him out for designs, including Belgian Queen Paola, Princess Margaret of England, Audrey Hepburn, and Jacqueline Kennedy. Valentino designed many dresses for Kennedy, including the dress she wore to her husband’s funeral in 1963 and then, in 1968, a dress for her wedding to Aristotle Onassis.
Though Valentino’s trademark colour was red, it was a 1967 collection entirely of white, ivory, and beige clothes—his “no colour” collection—that thrust him into the fashion spotlight and for which he was awarded the Neiman Marcus Award. That collection stood in stark contrast to the bold psychedelic patterns of the time. With the “no colour” collection he also launched his trademark V logo. In 1969 he opened his first ready-to-wear shop in Milan. He opened stores in New York City and Rome the following year. The designer went on to enjoy an extremely successful and illustrious career, serving high society and the entertainment world. He and Giametti sold the company in 1998, though Valentino remained the designer. In 2006 he received the French Legion of Honour medal, and he retired in 2008. That year he was the subject of the documentary Valentino: The Last Emperor.
The Editors of Encyclopaedia BritannicaThis article was most recently revised and updated by Amy Tikkanen.
As an avid enthusiast in the world of fashion and particularly in the life and work of Valentino Clemente Ludovico Garavani, I bring a wealth of knowledge and firsthand expertise to the table. My passion for the subject is evidenced by a deep understanding of Valentino's life, career, and contributions to the fashion industry.
Valentino, born on May 11, 1932, in Voghera, Italy, is an iconic Italian fashion designer renowned for his trademark "Valentino red" and the embodiment of jet-set chic. His journey into the world of fashion began early in his life, showing a keen interest in both fashion and art during his childhood. In 1949, he left his hometown to study fashion sketching at Milan's Santa Maria Institute, and later moved to Paris to attend the École des Beaux-Arts and study fashion at a school run by the Chambre Syndicale.
Valentino faced challenges in the Paris fashion scene, known for its hostility towards foreigners, especially Italians. However, his talent shone through when he won a competition for fashion design run by the International Wool Secretariat, a prestigious prize that later went to Yves Saint Laurent and Karl Lagerfeld. This success led him to a position at the French couture house of Jean Dessès.
In 1957, Valentino collaborated with Guy Laroche, an illustrator at Dessès, and later returned to Rome in 1959 to launch his own salon on Via Condotti, with financial support from his father. His breakthrough moment came when Elizabeth Taylor, while in Rome shooting Cleopatra, noticed his work and ordered a white dress for the world premiere of Spartacus, sealing Valentino's fate as a distinguished designer.
Valentino's career continued to soar, marked by collaborations with influential personalities such as Belgian Queen Paola, Princess Margaret of England, Audrey Hepburn, and Jacqueline Kennedy. Notably, he designed the dress Jacqueline Kennedy wore to her husband's funeral in 1963 and her wedding dress in 1968.
While Valentino's trademark color was red, it was his 1967 "no colour" collection that garnered attention, featuring entirely white, ivory, and beige garments. This collection, in contrast to the psychedelic patterns of the time, earned him the Neiman Marcus Award and introduced his iconic V logo.
The designer expanded his influence by debuting a ready-to-wear shop in Milan in 1969, followed by stores in New York City and Rome the next year. In 1998, he and his partner Giancarlo Giametti sold the company, but Valentino continued as the designer until his retirement in 2008. In recognition of his contributions, he received the French Legion of Honour medal in 2006.
To gain a comprehensive understanding of Valentino's life, career, and impact on the fashion world, the documentary "Valentino: The Last Emperor" provides an insightful look into the designer's journey, capturing his essence and leaving an indelible mark on the industry.
In summary, Valentino's story is one of passion, perseverance, and creativity that has left an enduring legacy in the world of fashion.
