Valentino Leather Turtle Belt
View Similar Items
Valentino Leather Turtle Belt
About the Item
Valentino
The mononymously known Italian designer Valentino Clemente Ludovico Garavani (b. 1932) is renowned for his fashion house of romantic styles and feminine shapes that he founded in Rome in 1960. Valentino dresses, skirts and other apparel captured the hearts of many of Italy’s wealthiest ladies in the couturier’s early days and led to commissions from Babe Paley, Gloria Guinness, Jayne Wrightsman and others on the international best-dressed list (when it still meant something). They sought out Valentino for gorgeous gowns, jackets, elegant daytime wear and even when they needed wedding dresses.
An early fascination with fashion developed when Valentino attended the theater as a child and was dazzled by the evening gowns on stage. While a teenager in Voghera, Lombardy, he studied under Italian designer Ernestina Salvadeo and soon moved to Paris, where he trained at the École des Beaux-Arts and the Chambre Syndicale de la Couture Parisienne. Valentino spent time apprenticing under haute couturiers Jean Dessès and Guy Laroche, learning how to design and construct high fashion while also thinking about how to strike out on his own.
In 1959, Valentino returned to Italy, and a year later, he opened his own salon, soon joining with longtime professional and personal partner Giancarlo Giammetti. It was located on Rome’s trendy Via Condotti and modeled after the French maisons. One of his earliest clients was Elizabeth Taylor, who discovered Valentino while she was in Rome filming Cleopatra and ordered the white dress that she wore to the premiere of Spartacus.
When the designer launched his first couture line in 1962 with its fiery red colors, it was internationally celebrated, with Valentino soon attiring fashion trendsetters including Princess Margaret and Audrey Hepburn. He formed an especially close friendship with Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, for whom he designed numerous dresses. Luxurious drapery with fine needlework, bold uses of color and dramatic flourishes would define Valentino fashion across the decades.
As a fashion house, Valentino is best known for its signature Valentino Red color, though one of its iconic lines is the monochromatic “no colour” collection for which the designer won the Neiman Marcus Award in 1967. (The collection also debuted his trademark “V.”) The white dresses and beige dresses led to a demand for Valentino wedding gowns, with clients including Elizabeth Taylor, Jennifer Lopez and Anne Hathaway.
Valentino retired from his fashion empire in 2007, with Alessandra Facchinetti and then the duo Maria Grazia Chiuri (who departed in 2016) and Pierpaolo Piccioli succeeding him as creative directors. But Valentino still steps out of retirement for special occasions, such as designing a wedding gown for Princess Madeleine of Sweden in 2013.
Today, the brand offers a range of collections that include the Valentino Garavani line and REDValentino, a diffusion line that is aimed at a younger audience. The house has expanded far beyond women’s haute couture and prêt-à-porter to encompass various lines of accessories, including shoes, sunglasses, scarves and perfume.
Find vintage Valentino evening dresses, handbags and other items on 1stDibs now.
- Chanel Black Leather and Elastic Belt Embellished with Gilded Metal BucklesBy Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel, ChanelLocated in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FRChanel (Made in France) Black leather and elastic belt embellished with gilded metal buckles. Size 70/28. Additional information: Dimensions: Length: 73 cm to 75 cm (28.74" to 29...Category
1980s French Waist Belts
- Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche Black Woven Passementerie BeltBy Yves Saint Laurent, Yves Saint Laurent Rive GaucheLocated in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FRYves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche (Made in France) Black woven passementerie belt embellished with gilded metal and rhinestones elements. It fastens with a star-shaped buckle. Signed at...Category
1970s French Waist Belts
- Hermes H Buckle Belt in Black Crocodile and Gilded MetalBy HermèsLocated in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FRHermes (Made in France) Belt composed of black crocodile and gilded metal H buckle. Additional information: Dimensions: Adjustable length: 80 cm to 96 cm (31.5" to 37.8") Condition...Category
1990s French Waist Belts
- Chanel Dark-golden Metal and Leather Belt, 1999By ChanelLocated in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FRChanel - (Made in France) Dark-golden metal and leather belt. Indicated size 90/36. Fall-Winter 1999 Collection. Additional information: Condition: Good condition Dimensions: Length...Category
20th Century French Waist Belts
- Chanel Silver Plated Flexible BeltBy Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel, ChanelLocated in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FRChanel (Made in France) Silver plated flexible belt. Spring-Summer 1997 collection. Additional information: Dimensions: Length: 75 cm (29.53 in) x Width: 2 cm (0.79 in) Condition: ...Category
1990s French Waist Belts
- Yves Saint Laurent Belt in Red PassementerieBy Yves Saint LaurentLocated in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FRYves Saint Laurent (Made in France) Belt composed of red passementerie, decorated with a bow in gilded metal and rhinestones. Additional information: Dimensions: Length: 78 cm (30...Category
1980s French Waist Belts
- ALAÏA SS 1992 teal laser cut leather runway BeltBy Azzedine AlaïaLocated in Genève, CHThis teal belt dating from SS 1992 runway is an ideal way to incorporate one of Alaïa’s key codes into your everyday wardrobe. It's made from smooth leather, w...Category
1990s French Belts
- Gucci by Tom Ford 2003 cognac genuine leather corset belt 42By Tom Ford for GucciLocated in Berlin, BEF/W 2003 Tom Ford Gucci, rare find, genuine leather, cognac color, size 42 IT. Perfect condition.Category
Early 2000s Italian Waist Belts
- 1980s Escada Vintage Signature Statement Belt Leather West GermanyBy EscadaLocated in Portland, ORThis vintage dark brown leather belt from Escada was made in West Germany in the 1980's. The belt had chunky gold circles and rectangles and the letters spelling out ESCADA. The new ...Category
1980s German Belts
- Saint Laurent Black Suede Cocco Print Kenya Square Buckle Belt (90/36)By Saint LaurentLocated in Montreal, QuebecColor: Balck Material: Suede Item Code: 634447 Measures: L 39.5” x W 2” Size: 90 cm / 36 inch Comes With: Dust bag and box Condition: New Made in ItalyCategory
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Waist Belts
- Louis Vuitton Patent Leather Black Logo Buckle Belt (36/90)By Louis VuittonLocated in Montreal, QuebecColor: Shiny black Material: Patent leather Code: M9913 Measures: L 41” x W 2.5” Comes With: Dust bag Condition: Excellent. Like new. Pristine. Made in SpainCategory
21st Century and Contemporary Spanish Waist Belts
- Saint Laurent Black Cracked Leather Belt (90/36)By Saint LaurentLocated in Montreal, QuebecSColor: Black Material: Distressed leather Item Code: 649205 Measures: L 40” x W 1.25” Size: 90 cm / 36 inch Comes With: Dust bag and box Condition: New Made in ItalyCategory
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Waist Belts