1980's Valentino Red Dress
View Similar Items
1980's Valentino Red 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.
- 2005 Prada Spring Ready-to-Wear Red Taffeta Cocktail Dress With ApronBy PradaLocated in Toronto, OntarioBabydoll style Prada bright red silk taffeta cocktail dress from the 2005 Spring ready-to-wear collection. The U shape bust line is meant to show off cleavage while the empire waistl...Category
Early 2000s Italian Cocktail Dresses
- Chanel RTW Autumn 2007 Red and White Wool ShirtdressBy ChanelLocated in Toronto, OntarioChanel shirtdress from the Autumn 2007 runway collection. This dress was look 5/67 on the runway under the glass dome of the Grand Palais, and worn by Behati Prinsloo. Vibrant red wo...Category
Early 2000s French Day Dresses
- 1960's Mollie Parnis Romantic Red Gown with CapletBy Mollie ParnisLocated in Toronto, OntarioExquisite 1960's red chiffon hanky hem gown with matching capelet. Fitted through the bodice with spaghetti straps the dress is double layered, a feature that is accented by the irre...Category
1960s American Cocktail Dresses
- 1970's Pauline Trigere Red Wool Gown & Coat EnsembleBy Pauline TrigèreLocated in Toronto, Ontario1970's Pauline Trigere red knit jersey gown and jacket ensemble. Gown is empire waist with inverted pleats in the front. Skims the body beautifully, lined in red silk. The long line ...Category
1970s American Dress and Coat Ensembles
$1,500 Sale Price25% Off - 1990's Myréne de Prémonville Rhinestone Studded Coral Chiffon DressLocated in Toronto, OntarioStunning early 1990's coral chiffon swing dress by Myréne de Prémonville, a designer well known in France for her couture quality clothing. She r...Category
1990s French Cocktail Dresses
- 1970's Evelyn Byrnes Flame Red Rayon Crepe GownBy Evelyn ByrnesLocated in Toronto, Ontario1970's sophisticated flame red rayon crepe V-Neck gown with hand made gilt metal waist ornament. This dress is one of a small selection of pieces from the closet of a renowned Hollywood musical celebrity. She was part of a performing family and her career spanned many decades. This chic gown may have been part of her on stage wardrobe however the excellent condition leads me to believe it was rarely worn. The sculpted gilt metal waist piece is threaded through with matching fabric and ties in the back elevating this dress to an art/design level. The label is from Evelyn Byrnes of New York and Bal Harbour. She the former head high fashion designer at Marshall Field in the 1950's then moved on to be head...Category
1970s American Shift Cocktail Dresses
- Vintage Early 1940's Crimson Red Satin Evening Dress UK 10-12 US 6-8Located in Cheltenham, GBThis breathtaking early 1940's crimson satin dress, rendered in a full circle cut and tailored to perfection, is the perfect piece for that special occasion. The V shaped neckline...Category
1940s Evening Dresses
- Vintage 1960's Satin Matelasse Dress, Capelet & Shoe Set UK 12 US 8Located in Cheltenham, GBA classic silhouette rendered in a tickle me pink matelasse satin, with matching ostrich feather accents, this original 1960's dress and capelet set, completed with matching silk sho...Category
1960s Cocktail Dresses
- Blumarine, Orange draped dressBy BlumarineLocated in AMSTERDAM, NLBlumarine, Orange draped dress with crystal embellishments. The item is in very good condition. Dress has shoulderpads. • CONDITION: very good condition ...Category
2010s Evening Dresses
- Valentino red evening dress with embellished lace sleeves, fw 2005By ValentinoLocated in Milano, IT- Runway Look 84 - Sold by Skof.Archive - Red evening dress - Sequined sleeves - Hidden side zipper - Inner bustier with side zipper - Fall Winter 2005 Size : FR 40 - EN 44 - U...Category
Early 2000s Italian Aesthetic Evening Dresses
$2,198 Sale Price20% Off - ALEXANDER MCQUEEN red silk GEORGETTE FLORAL DROP WAIST Dress 42 MBy Alexander McQueenLocated in Zürich, CHAlexander McQueen floral-print drop-waist dress in red silk georgette (100%). Has a mandarine collar, button front, cuffed long sleeves. Lined in silk (100%). Has been worn and is in...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Cocktail Dresses
$760 Sale Price20% OffFree Shipping - VALENTINO red viscose RUFFLE NECK SHEER SLEEVE Dress 8By ValentinoLocated in Zürich, CHValentino ruffle-collar dress in red viscose (95%) elastane (5%) with a layered silk ruffle- collar, sheer silk sleeves closes with a button, flared A-line skirt. Closes with a conce...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Cocktail Dresses