Valentino Vintage Navy Blue Wool Dress Suit With Dress and Jacket
View Similar Items
Valentino Vintage Navy Blue Wool Dress Suit With Dress and Jacket
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.
- 1980s Escada Green Pink Blue & Orange Plaid 2 pc Dress w/ Skirt & Linen TopBy EscadaLocated in Portland, ORThis is a beautiful ensemble from the 1980's designed by Margaretha Ley for Escada. The outfit has a pleated midi length skirt that buttons down the front. It is made of linen in an ...Category
1980s German Day Dresses
$269 Sale Price69% Off - Vicky Tiel Peplum Top & Skirt Dress / Suit in Yellow & Black Abstract Silk PrintBy Vicky TielLocated in Portland, ORThis is a vintage Vicky Tiel Couture silk skirt suit originally purchased at Bergdorf Goodman in the 1980's. This lovely suit looks like a dress when worn. The outfit is in a 100% si...Category
1980s French Day Dresses
- 1989 Patrick Kelly Paris Rare Vintage Musical Note Novelty Print Jacket & SkirtBy Patrick KellyLocated in Portland, ORWe always love finding vintage Patrick Kelly pieces because they are always so unique and whimsical. Because his life was cut so tragically short, Kelly was only able to produce a fe...Category
1980s European Skirt Suits
- Louis Feraud Vintage Navy Polka Dot Peplum Top Pencil Skirt & Blazer Jacket SuitBy Louis FeraudLocated in Portland, ORThis is a vintage Louis Feraud 3 piece navy blue and white polka dot rayon skirt , top and jacket suit. Louis Feraud pieces are always beautifully made and we always love finding the...Category
1980s German Skirt Suits
- Albert Nipon Silk Striped Vintage 2 pc. Dress With BowBy Albert NiponLocated in Portland, ORThis pretty vintage 2 piece striped dijon mustard green and cream dress was designed by Albert Nipon in the 1970's. The dress includes a pleated skirt and a button front blouse with ...Category
1970s American Day Dresses
$225 Sale Price43% Off - 2004 Alexander McQueen Deliverance Runway Patchwork Skirt & Jacket SuitBy Alexander McQueenLocated in Portland, ORThis outstanding Alexander McQueen 2004 two piece patchwork skirt and jacket suit is a perfect example of Lee McQueen's attention to detail and tailoring f...Category
Early 2000s European Skirt Suits
- Salvatore Ferragamo Black Viscose Long Cocktail Suit Dress 1990sBy FerragamoLocated in Brindisi, BtSalvatore Ferragamo vintage 90s woman dress. Suit consisting of dress long with vest. Dress with gold-colored button closure, without sleeves. 100% viscose. Color black. Made in Ital...Category
1990s Italian Cocktail Dresses
- RUDI GERNREICH c.1960s 2 Pc Wool Knit & Leather Open Jacket Shift Dress Suit SetBy Rudi GernreichLocated in Thiensville, WIDESCRIPTION: RUDI GERNREICH c.1960s 2 Pc Wool Knit & Leather Open Jacket Shift Dress Suit Set Circa: c.1960’s Label(s): Rudi Gernreich Designer For Harmon Knitwear California Desi...Category
1960s Unknown Dress and Coat Ensembles
- HARVEY BERIN c.1960's 2 Pc Paisley Jacquard Jacket Illusion Top Dress Suit SetBy Harvey Berin, Karen StarkLocated in Thiensville, WIDESCRIPTION: HARVEY BERIN c.1960's 2 Pc Paisley Jacquard Jacket Illusion Top Dress Suit Set Circa: c.1960’s Label(s): Harvey Berin designed by Karen Stark Style: Dress suit Color(s): Black, pink Lined: Yes Unmarked Fabric Content (feel of): Shell: Rayon blend; Lining: Silk Additional Details / Inclusions: Paisley jacquard open front jacket, notched lapel collar, 3/4 length sleeves. Illusion top dress, sleeveless, blouson bodice, black crinkle chiffon overlay with mandarin collar, two snap closures at back of collar, keyhole back, strapless under layer black crinkle chiffon overlaid pink taffeta, matching paisley jacquard shift skirt, two inseam pockets, center back metal zipper closure, partially lined at bodice, interior boning at sides of bodice. Additional Packaging: No MEASUREMENTS & SIZING: * Unmarked Size: XS...Category
1960s Unknown Dress and Coat Ensembles
- Vintage Yves Saint Laurent YSL Chartreuse Stripe Wrap Ensemble, 1970sBy Yves Saint LaurentLocated in Los Angeles, CAResurrection Vintage is excited to offer a vintage 1970s Yves Saint Laurent chartreuse wrap top & skirt ensemble with multi-color stripes. The top features a wrap-around front tie cl...Category
1970s French Day Dresses
- A French Couture dress and jacket in Pierre Balmain style - Circa 1972Located in Toulon, FRCirca 1972 France Haute couture set with dress and jacket in navy blue jersey and silk unidentified and dating back to the early 70s. Sleeveless dress, top silk print squared in the Vasarely taste, skirt with deep pleats.Checkered effect jacket with silk lining in the same fabric and reminder at the cuffs. Large stitching...Category
1970s French Casual Dresses
- Vintage Saint Laurent red polkadot blouse and skirt ensembleBy Yves Saint LaurentLocated in Beverly Hills, CAEarly 80s Yves Saint Laurent red, white and black polkadot silk twill blouse with puffy sleeves. slip on blouse ( no zipper) knife pleats skirt with pock...Category
1980s French Cocktail Dresses