Born in Voghera, a small town south of Milan Valentino Garvani On May 11, 1932. It began in 1950, when, aged just 17, he left his native Italy for Paris, where he worked in workshops. Guy Laroche and Jean Desses. He learned the trade and, in 1959, returned to Rome to open his first shop. The fashion world is beginning to realize that a star is born, but after the legendary presentation of his “White Collection” in 1967, a great opportunity is knocking on his door.
Jackie Kennedy dress signed by Valentino
Jackie Kennedy He notices the new Italian talent and orders him to say yes to his wedding suit Onassis. In a riot of creativity, Valentino made her an amber mini dress in georgette silk, the image of which spread around the world, highlighting her talent. Then, big names come to his workshop with satisfaction: Farrah Diva, Audrey Hepburn, Nancy Reagan, Liz Taylor… young people are added to this first generation of clients, because Valentino elegance, like material, does not consume or disappear, it only transforms, adapting to women’s tastes over time. Jennifer Lopez, Gwyneth Paltrow is Martha Ortega.
Most of their clients confirm that wearing Valentino makes them feel like themselves rather than fashion victims. Perhaps because Valentino himself once said: “A woman’s character and personality are infinitely more attractive, seductive and charming than beauty alone.”
Giancarlo Giametti, the designer’s right-hand man
The Valentino empire stretches from New York to Moscow, 175 boutiques spread across four continents. And while the cornerstone is the creative genius of the Italian couturier, the pillar that has turned the firm into a great company and promoted it around the world is his lifelong partner and business partner, the Italian architect. Giancarlo Giametti.
The Italian couturier, who retired in 2008, was not content to dress the world’s most elegant women, but to turn them into muses and friends. Liz Taylor, Brooke Shields, Sophia Loren, Marissa Berenson…from the beginning, until now, has been occupying a position for her as a confidant and support both in her show and in her personal life.
Valentino’s luxury mansion
And once a couturier gives someone his friendship, he takes care of it and preserves it with true care. They are famous for frequent evenings with jet set celebrities and the world of design at any of their luxury mansions. Rome, Versailles, Capri, Tuscany, London, Gstaad and New York Or his yacht, Spectacular ‘bluewan’which stops on the island of Ibiza every summer with supermodels Ellie McPherson, Claudia Schiffer or Naomi Campbell on the ship
Valentino Red
One characteristic that characterizes this genius of needles is the red color, in particular Valentino RedWhich is now part of our culture. Valentino Garvani decided to change the passion color in his DNA and open his own fashion house. Via Condotti in Rome (1959), he showed that They say that while still young, Valentino went to the opera and saw an elderly woman in a red velvet dress. There was no harm in him standing out from the crowd. That memory was the inspiration and driving force for the designer, who found in red an irresistible formula of elegance that no woman would go unnoticed. He had the confidence in it that it was part of his career from the beginning, an object of exhibition and a current symbol of the history of fashion.
In 1998, Garavani and Giametti sold the brand to Gianni Agnelli for €300 million, and four years later it was luxury group Marzotto that took control of the brand, although in both cases Valentino was the designer.
When did Valentino Garavani retire?
however, In 2007 Valentino Garvani has announced that he will be stepping down as creative director of his brand but not before presenting his final ready-to-wear show at the Spring/Summer 2008 Fashion Week in Paris. He appointed Alessandra Facinetti to take his position. However, a year later, Facchinetti was fired and the young designer, Pierpaolo Piccioli And Maria Grazia ChiuriThose who worked at Fendi took the stand.
In 2016, discussions began about the possible departure of co-creative director Maria Grazia Chiuri, and the rumor was confirmed in June of the same year. Pierpaolo remained alone at the helm of Valentino until March 2024, when he announced his departure after 25 years at the helm of the brand.
After Pierpaolo’s sudden departure, it was time to find out who would occupy this important position, and the chosen one was none other than Gucci’s former creative director, Alessandro Michele.
