1970's Valentino Couture Burgundy-Red Silk Chiffon & Lace Pintuck Pleated Dress
View Similar Items
1970's Valentino Couture Burgundy-Red Silk Chiffon & Lace Pintuck Pleated Dress
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.
- Vintage 1960's Bob Bugnand Red & Orange Floral Flocked Satin Strapless GownBy Bob Bugnand, Bob Bugnand for Sam FriedlanderLocated in Beverly Hills, CABreathtaking and ultra rare Bob Bugnand for Sam Friedlander designer dress dating back to the late 1960's. Bob Bugnand worked as the chief designer for Jacques Heim and Robert Piquet...Category
1960s Aesthetic Evening Dresses
- Vintage 1970's Halston Couture Red Metallic Sheer Knit Long-Sleeve Dress GownBy HalstonLocated in Beverly Hills, CAGorgeous Halston Couture metallic lurex knit dress ensemble dating back to the mid 1970's. Throughout most of the seventies he epitomized the glamour, as well as the decadence of the...Category
1970s Aesthetic Evening Dresses
- Vintage 1970's Embroidered Patchwork Cotton Maxi Dress Worn By Zsa Zsa GaborLocated in Beverly Hills, CAA vibrant, early 1970's Joann Lopez designer embroidered cotton dress straight from Zsa Zsa Gabor's wardrobe. This dress dates back to the h...Category
1970s American Aesthetic Day Dresses
- Vintage 1969 Rudi Gernreich Cross Your Heart Empire Red Navy Knit Mod Maxi DressBy Rudi GernreichLocated in Beverly Hills, CAA fearless designer, Rudi Gernreich’s body conscious garments dazzled the fashion world with originality and vision. Gernreich held a futurist view of fashion that resulted in innova...Category
1960s American Maxi Dresses
- Vintage 1995 Moschino Couture 'Ladybug' Novelty Black & Red Silk Halter DressBy Moschino, Moschino CoutureLocated in Beverly Hills, CASensational Moschino Couture 'Coccinella' titled ladybug novelty silk dress dating back to his 1995 fall-winter collection. As shown, this ultra rare and absolutely adorable garment is also archived at The Metropolitan Museum of Art! Moschino called himself half tailor, half artist; although he did not cut or sew, he drew frequently, quickly, and spontaneously! His cuts were meticulously constructed and traditional, as well as flattering to the wearer. This playful dress is a perfect example of why this brand has stood the test of time. Not only is this little number very alluring; it is so iconic. The flattering halter-tie bodice flawlessly acts as the antennas while the body is transformed into red wings...Category
1990s Italian Aesthetic Evening Dresses
- Vintage 1970 Courreges Hyperbole Orange Wool Space-Age Sleeveless Mod Mini DressBy André Courrèges, CourrègesLocated in Beverly Hills, CAVibrant and rare-to-find bright orange André Courrèges dress dating back to the early 1970's. Courreges launched his Space-Age collection in 1964. The ...Category
1970s French Mini Dresses
- McQ Alexander McQueen Orange Stretch Knit Dress W Cut Out Zipper DetailsBy Alexander McQueen, McQ Alexander McQueenLocated in Portland, ORThis orange Alexander McQueen dress is so special and we really love the diagonal bust zipper that is fully functional! You can wear it with the zipper open for a cut out effect. Thi...Category
2010s Turkish Day Dresses
- 1980s Vintage Red Vakko Suede Peplum Strapless DressBy VAKKOLocated in Portland, ORThis is such a fun vintage red dress! This Vakko suede peplum evening dress has a sweetheart bust and a pointed peplum at the waist. .The dress is fu...Category
1980s American Evening Dresses
- 1930s Rusty Red Silk Vintage 2 Pc Bias Dress With Rhinestone Belt and TieLocated in Portland, ORThis is a vintage 1930's two piece rust red silk dress with a matching belt with original sash buckle. This top of the dress has long sleeves with gathered tucks on the elbows, a V n...Category
1930s American Day Dresses
- Oscar de la Renta Embroidered Silk Caftan with Matching dress New!By Oscar De La RentaLocated in Los Angeles, CAOscar de la Renta 2 piece silk caftan Fashioned of rich tomato red silk with matching slipdress. Neckline adorned with heavily embellished gol...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Caftans
$2,240 Sale Price20% Off - LeSwim Red and Black Lips Print Halter Midi Dress Size SmallLocated in Paradise Island, BSFounded by Adriana Caras, LeSwim is a modern vision of luxury resort style, offering elevated swimwear and resort wear that travels beyond the beach. The clothing is made in the US, ...Category
2010s American Day Dresses
$297 Sale Price40% Off - LeSwim Red and Black Lips Print Halter Midi Dress Size XSLocated in Paradise Island, BSFounded by Adriana Caras, LeSwim is a modern vision of luxury resort style, offering elevated swimwear and resort wear that travels beyond the beach. The clothing is made in the U, o...Category
2010s American Day Dresses
$297 Sale Price40% Off
Recently Viewed
View AllRead More
This Two-Piece Beaded Gown by Puerto Rican Designer David Fernandez Is the Embodiment of 1970s Glam
On the Met Gala red carpet, this vintage ensemble would bring the heat.
Madonna Wore the Same Plunging Azzedine Alaïa Design on the Cover of ‘Cosmo’ in 1987
The gold silk stunner was part of a knockout collection that changed the trajectory of Alaïa's then-troubled brand.