Information On Valentino

For over forty years Valentino Garavani, known to all simply as Valentino has been one of the most famous names in fashion creating some of the world's most stylish eveningwear and classic designs.

Valentino was born in Voghera, Italy in May 1932. Valentino's childhood interests in fashion, painting and architecture coupled with an immense talent for drawing, prompted Valentino to study fashion design and French at the Accademia dell Arte in Milan. The success of Valentino led Valentino to additional studies at the Chambre Syndicale de la Couture Parisienne and it was there that Valentino flourished. Moving to Paris to study fashion while still in his teens Valentino also took up dance lessons and developed a love of French theatre. While still a student Valentino was awarded a prestigious prize for fashion design by the International Wool Secretariat. This award led to Valentino being noticed by couturier Jean Desses at whose fashion house Valentino took up his first design job in 1950.

Valentino assisted Desses for five years before going to work for Guy Laroche who was the former chief illustrator at Desses where amongst other duties Valentino assisted Princess Irene Galitzine. By 1960 Valentino was ready to establish himself as a designer in his own right and launched his first collection and salon on the Via Condotti in Rome. Valentino was an immediate success impressing in particular Elizabeth Taylor who was filming in Italy at the time and has remained a fan ever since.

It was Valentino's desire to design clothes that would celebrate the female form and accentuate a woman's sensuality. The launch of Fedrico Fellini's La Dolce Vita in 1960, the same year as Valentino launched his first store accelerated his success as women everywhere wished to emulate the film's style and its star Anita Ekberg.

Emerging as one of the leading couturiers of the Sixties despite the fact that his premises were in Rome, not Paris, Valentino's unique designs were widely admired. Valentino drew particular praise for his full-length skirts. Success spawned a boutique in Paris and the launch of the now-famous 'V' label. In 1967 Valentino won the coveted Neiman Marcus Prize and in 1970 Valentino launched his first ready-to-wear line with boutiques following in Rome and New York.

In 1991 to celebrate thirty years in fashion Valentino threw a three-day party reported to cost $5 million. A retrospective exhibition, 'Thirty Years of Magic', was also mounted in Valentino's honour including some previously unseen sketches. It was a fitting celebration for a man whose career has seen him design countless Oscar gowns as well as some of the world's most expensive wedding dresses. A red carpet regular Valentino has dressed some of the world's most glamorous people. His success has also provided him with a lifestyle to match that of even his richest customers.

In 1998, Valentino and his business partner Giancarlo Giammetti sold their fashion empire for £211 million.