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.
2010s Italian Valentino
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Valentino
1990s Italian Valentino
Valentino fashion for sale on 1stDibs.
Designers Similar to Valentino
- How old is Valentino?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022Valentino, the Italian luxury brand, is 61 years old and was founded in 1960. Valentino Clemente Ludovico Garavan, the founder of Valentino, is 89 years old and was born 1932. Valentino clothing and accessories are available directly through Valentino’s website or boutiques as well as through selected authorized sellers, such as 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 21, 2024No, REDValentino and Valentino are not exactly the same. Both luxury fashion lines have been under the umbrella of the Italian house of Valentino, but they are distinct from one another. Valentino is the main luxury collection, while REDValentino was a diffusion line launched in 2003 to produce fashions that appeal to a younger demographic of women. On 1stDibs, shop a diverse assortment of Valentino apparel and accessories.
- 1stDibs ExpertAugust 17, 2021No, Mario Valentino is not the same as Valentino — Mario Valentino was a Naples, Italy-born shoe designer who eventually expanded his offerings to include handbags, jackets and other apparel in the 1960s, while Valentino Garavani, who is mostly known simply as “Valentino,” is a fashion designer originally from Lombardy, Italy. Other than the Valentino line, the latter’s collections include Valentino Roma, R.E.D. Valentino and more.
- 1stDibs ExpertMarch 13, 2024No, Valentino and Valentino Garavani are not exactly the same. Valentino is the name of an Italian luxury fashion house. The maker offers both couture and ready-to-wear apparel and accessories under the Valentino label. Valentino Garavani is a diffusion brand offered by Valentino. Its focus is mostly on shoes, handbags and small leather goods. Shop a variety of Valentino apparel and accessories on 1stDibs.
- When was Valentino founded?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertFebruary 1, 2024Valentino was founded in 1960. Valentino Clemente Ludovico Garavani established the Italian fashion house in Rome. 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. On 1stDibs, explore a collection of Valentino apparel and accessories.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022Valentino Garavani is known mononymously as Valentino. He is the Italian fashion designer and founder of Valentino, a high-fashion luxury brand which makes haute couture and ready-to-wear fashions. On 1stDibs, find a collection of authentic Valentino pieces from some of the world’s top sellers.
- What is Valentino Red?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2024What Valentino Red is depends on the context. If it's referring to the color of the garment, the term is the name for a proprietary shade of red that is recognized by Pantone and is a blend of 100% yellow, 100% magenta and 10% black. Red Valentino is also the name of a diffusion line produced by the luxury fashion house of Valentino. The focus of the label is on contemporary, accessibly priced clothing and accessories. Shop a diverse assortment of Valentino pieces on 1stDibs.
- What is Valentino known for?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertApril 16, 2024Valentino is known for a few things. 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 the "V" trademark. The white dresses and beige dresses led to a demand for Valentino wedding gowns, with clients including Elizabeth Taylor, Jennifer Lopez and Anne Hathaway. Founder Valentino Garavani is famous for his womenswear featuring romantic styles and feminine shapes. 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. They sought out Valentino for gorgeous gowns, jackets, elegant daytime wear and even, when needed, wedding dresses. Shop a collection of Valentino apparel and accessories on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 13, 2024The difference between Valentino Garavani and Mario Valentino is that they are two distinct designers who are not affiliated with each other. Valentino Garavani founded the Italian luxury fashion house of Valentino in Rome in 1960. Mario Valentino established his eponymous brand, Mario Valentino, in Naples, Italy, in 1952.
- Is Valentino a French brand?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertMarch 25, 2024No, Valentino is not a French brand. The luxury fashion house is actually Italian, operating out of its headquarters in Milan. Italian designer Valentino Clemente Ludovico Garavani established his eponymous fashion brand in Rome, Italy, in 1960. Explore a diverse assortment of Valentino apparel and accessories from some of the world's top boutiques on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertMarch 25, 2024Who the real Valentino designer is depends on the context, because two designers share the same name. The first is Valentino Clemente Ludovico Garavani, who founded the Italian luxury fashion house in 1960. 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. The second is Mario Valentino, who launched his own eponymous label in 1952. On 1stDibs, explore a collection of Valentino and Mario Valentino apparel and accessories.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022To determine whether your Valentino shoes are fake, first look at the box they came in. A genuine Valentino box has a linen texture with the brand name embossed in red. Check the stitching on the tag sewn into the interior of the shoe, which should be neat and even. The brand font is crisp, and the sole under the tag is flat, not puffed up. Genuine Valentino does have a serial number that’s the same color as the hardware, while a fake pair will typically have no serial number at all. Shop a collection of authentic Valentino footwear from trusted sellers on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022There are a few tell-tale signs you can look for to determine whether your Valentino handbag is real or fake. Authentic Valentino purses will have the same print in the logo as the rivet color, silver with silver and gold with gold. The inner logo inside of the bag will be centered on a red patch and all four sides will be sewn down. Newer bags will also have a serial number that is often found in an inner pocket. Shop a collection of authentic Valentino purses from some of the world’s top boutiques on 1stDibs.