Valentino Vintage Blue Wool Dress with Black Velvet Shawl Collar, 1980s
View Similar Items
Valentino Vintage Blue Wool Dress with Black Velvet Shawl Collar, 1980s
About the Item
- Designer:
- Brand:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use. Small faint mark to front on skirt not noticeable when worn only seen upon very close inspection, no other stains, tears or holes.
- Seller Location:Doncaster, GB
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU46833225463
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.
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 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 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.
- Bellville Sassoon Vintage Purple Silk Taffeta Strapless Tiered 80s Evening DressBy Belinda Bellville, Bellville SassoonLocated in Doncaster, South YorkshireA stunning vintage women's evening gown from the 1980s by the renowned British fashion house, Bellville Sassoon. This esteemed label created designs for iconic figures such as Prince...Category
1980s Evening Gowns
- Gianni Versace Couture Vintage Mens Black & White Checked BlazerBy Gianni VersaceLocated in Doncaster, South YorkshireAn excellent 1990s men's blazer by Gianni Versace couture. Made from Italian wool in white and black, it showcases a stylish checked pattern and features a classic single-breasted de...Category
1990s Blazers
- Vivienne Westwood indigo cotton jersey dress printed dress, ss 1991By Vivienne WestwoodLocated in London, GB▪ Vivienne Westwood dress ▪ Sold by One of a Kind Archive ▪ Constructed from indigo cotton jersey ▪ Neoclassical print inspired by Andre-Charles Boull...Category
1990s British Evening Dresses and Gowns
- S/S 1998 Gianni Versace by Donatella Ad Asymmetric Blue Purple Sheer DressBy Donatella Versace for Gianni Versace, Gianni Versace CoutureLocated in West Hollywood, CAPresenting an asymmetric Gianni Versace Couture dress, designed by Donatella Versace. From the Spring/Summer 1998 collection, this multi-pattern dress features two layers. The interi...Category
1990s Italian Cocktail Dresses
- F/W 2002 Gianni Versace by Donatella Runway Sheer Purple Strapless Quilted DressBy Gianni Versace Couture, Donatella Versace for Gianni VersaceLocated in West Hollywood, CAPresenting a purple print quilted strapless Gianni Versace Couture dress, designed by Donatella Versace. This gorgeous dress debuted on the Fall/Winter 2002 runway as look number 30,...Category
Early 2000s Italian Cocktail Dresses
- F/W 1996 Gianni Versace Couture Purple Satin Yellow Lace Rhinestone Slip DressBy Gianni Versace, Gianni Versace CoutureLocated in West Hollywood, CAPresenting a stunning yellow and purple satin Gianni Versace Couture dress, designed by Gianni Versace. From the Fall/Winter 1996 collection, this gorgeous dress debuted as part of l...Category
1990s Italian Cocktail Dresses
- F/W 2004 Versace by Donatella Versace Purple Tiger One Shoulder Buckle DressBy Versace, Donatella VersaceLocated in West Hollywood, CAPresenting a vibrant purple tiger print Versace dress, designed by Donatella Versace. From the Fall/Winter 2004 collection, the same print in yellow/orange debuted on looks 8 and 11. This beautiful deep purple dress...Category
Early 2000s Italian Cocktail Dresses
- S/S 1991 Atelier Versace by Gianni Versace Grecian Tunic Two Piece Dress SetBy Gianni Versace, Atelier VersaceLocated in West Hollywood, CAPresenting a stunning Atelier Versace dress set from the S/S 1991 collection, designed by Gianni Versace. This extraordinary piece can be seen on the season's haute couture runway. C...Category
1990s Italian Greek Style Dresses