Valentino Couture Bag
2010s Shoes
People Also Browsed
Early 2000s French Evening Dresses and Gowns
Early 2000s Italian Wedding Dresses
1990s French Evening Dresses and Gowns
20th Century Italian Boots
Early 2000s Italian Shoes
2010s French Casual Dresses
21st Century and Contemporary British Boots
Early 2000s Italian Evening Dresses and Gowns
1990s French Pencil Skirts
1990s Italian Boots
Early 2000s Italian Maxi Dresses
Recent Sales
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Contemporary Handbags and Purses
1970s Italian Evening Bags and Minaudières
Late 20th Century Italian Evening Bags and Minaudières
1990s Italian Shoulder Bags
21st Century and Contemporary French Wallets and Small Accessories
2010s Evening Bags and Minaudières
2010s Italian Tote Bags
2010s Italian Tote Bags
2010s Italian Tote Bags
2010s Shoes
2010s Italian Brogues
2010s Italian Brogues
21st Century and Contemporary High Heels
1990s Italian Shoulder Bags
1990s Italian Coats and Outerwear
1990s Italian Cocktail Dresses
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Contemporary Coats
1980s Italian Day Dresses
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Contemporary Blazers
1980s Italian Coats
1990s Italian Day Dresses
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Contemporary Wide Leg Pants
1970s Italian Blousons
1980s Italian Pleated Skirts
1990s Italian Babydoll Day Dresses
Late 20th Century Italian Skirt Suits
1990s Italian Coats
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Contemporary Cardigans
1980s Italian Skirt Suits
1990s Day Dresses
1990s Italian Jackets
1980s American Skirt Suits
1980s Italian Sweaters
1980s Italian Suits, Outfits and Ensembles
1980s Italian Evening Gowns
1980s Italian Evening Gowns
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Contemporary Trouser Pant Suits
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Contemporary Skirt Suits
1980s Italian Cocktail Dresses
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Skirt Suits
21st Century and Contemporary Backpacks
21st Century and Contemporary Crossbody Bags and Messenger Bags
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Shoulder Bags
2010s Italian Structured Shoulder Bags
Late 20th Century Italian Clutches
1990s Italian Day Dresses
2010s Italian Structured Shoulder Bags
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Contemporary Skirt Suits
1980s Italian Handbags and Purses
2010s Italian Tote Bags
21st Century and Contemporary Tote Bags
1980s Italian Shoulder Bags
2010s French Shoulder Bags
Valentino for sale on 1stDibs
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.