Valentino - Night Silk Jacquard and Knit Dress w/ Rainbow Floral Print
View Similar Items
Valentino - Night Silk Jacquard and Knit Dress w/ Rainbow Floral Print
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.
- 1980 Bill Blass Matisse Print Silk Chiffon Overlay & Matching Shift Dress SetBy Bill BlassLocated in Gresham, OR1980s Bill Blass beautiful Matisse-inspired floral print silk cocktail dress with matching silk chiffon overlay. This 2-piece ensemble is cut in a 1920s shift style and is sooooo chi...Category
1980s American Mini Dresses
- 1940s Chartreuse Rayon Crepe Print Swing Dress w/ Draped Hip & Cummerbund WaistLocated in Gresham, ORA beautiful 1940s Marian McCoy chartreuse and cream abstract print coral/floral rayon crepe dress with draped hip detail, separate cummerbund belted waist, short sleeved drop shoulde...Category
1940s American Cocktail Dresses
- 1980s Gianni Versace Yellow and Black Floral Print Silk Dress w Draped BackBy Gianni VersaceLocated in Gresham, ORA sexy 1980s Gianni Versace silk cocktail dress in a yellow and black 1940s-inspired floral print. A loose chemise fit with a slightly pegged hem and a reverse-printed, dramatically...Category
1980s Italian Cocktail Dresses
- 1940s Orchid Print Rayon Crepe Dress W/ Dramatic Orchid CorsageLocated in Gresham, OR1940s Orchid print rayon crepe dress: Large-scale orchid print makes this fabulous V-neck dinner dress really pop! Long sleeves and a sarong-style pleated and gathered panel at sid...Category
1940s American Cocktail Dresses
- Torso Creations Macrame Leather Fringe "Dream Catcher" W/ Delicate Lace TrimBy Torso CreationsLocated in Gresham, ORTorso Creations "Dream Catcher" dress in off-white sheer chiffon, in a Dolman silhouette and tapered hem with scalloped rows of tiny ecru lace ruffles throug...Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Casual Dresses
- Torso Creations Red Silk Chiffon Caftan Heavily Embroidered W/ Gold & SequinsBy Torso CreationsLocated in Gresham, ORTorso Creations Red Silk Chiffon Caftan Heavily Embroidered W/ Gold & Sequins. One of a kind and uniquely fashioned from vintage red silk chiffon sari fabric in the style of Thea Por...Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Caftans
- Jean Paul Gaultier Mesh Nomad Ethnic Tribal Aztec Tattoo Tatouages Indian DressBy Jean Paul GaultierLocated in PARIS, FRJean Paul Gaultier JPG Collector Catwalk Mesh Transparent Sheer Nomad Ethnic Tribal Indian Western Aztec Tattoo Tatouages Long Maxi Dress Extremely rare "Tatouages" dress from Jean Paul Gaultier! Museum piece! "Tim Blanks’ Top Fashion Shows of All Time Jean Paul Gaultier, Spring/Summer 1994, October 1993: BoF’s Editor-at-Large journeys back to a show that fused Indian mysticism, 18th century silhouettes...Category
1990s Maxi Dresses
$1,995 Sale Price30% OffFree Shipping - Etro multicolor floral stripe paisley print plunging cut out maxi dress gownBy EtroLocated in Paris, FRLOVE LALI Vintage An incredibly feminine floor length dress by Etro from their Spring/Summer 2007 runway collection Low cut plunging neckline Floral, stripe and paisley multicolour...Category
Early 2000s Maxi Dress
- Prada black & white gingham check print sleeveless babydoll style mini dressBy PradaLocated in Paris, FRLOVE LALI Vintage Prada black and white mini dress in gingham print Structured style sleeveless dress with a fitted waist and puffed skirt ...Category
2010s Italian Mini Dresses
- Azzedine Alaia black white polka dot sleeveless flare babydoll mini dress FR 36By Azzedine AlaïaLocated in Paris, FRAzzedine Alaia sleeveless flared dress in black with white polka dot print Fitted upper which extends into a flared full skirt Concealed back zip Size: FR 36 with plenty of stretch...Category
2010s Italian Cocktail Dresses
- Gianni Versace Couture Vintage Halter Neck Knitted DressBy Gianni VersaceLocated in Nice, FRGIANNI VERSACE Couture vintage halter neck knitted dress. This dress strongly highlights the silhouette with a thick knitting ribbed structure and...Category
20th Century Italian Day Dresses
$701 Sale Price20% Off - Elisabetta Franchi peach feathers dressLocated in Capri, ITElisabetta Franchi peach feathers dress totally made in italy in italian size range 42 total lenght 72 cmCategory
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Day Dresses