Documented 2011 Valentino Dress in Cream Organza w Black & White Flowers
View Similar Items
Documented 2011 Valentino Dress in Cream Organza w Black & White Flowers
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.
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.
- Arnold Scaasi Vintage Dress Off Shoulder Floral Organza over Green silkBy Arnold ScaasiLocated in Portland, ORThis is a vintage floral dress from designer Arnold Scaasi. The dress is in a beautiful floral printed organza over a rich green silk and has love...Category
20th Century Cocktail Dresses
- Ronaldus Shamask Avant Garde 1980's Vintage Cream Wool Dress Size 6/8By Ronaldus ShamaskLocated in Portland, ORThis vintage cream dress was designed by Ronaldus Shamask in the 1980's. The dress has front pockets, a back button at the neck, made of a fine woo...Category
1980s American Day Dresses
- Carlye White Pique Vintage Dress 2pc Lace Mesh Peek a Boo Peplum Bodice XSBy CarlyeLocated in Portland, ORThis is an outstanding 2 piece vintage dress in white cotton pique with sleeveless peplum top and slim, straight skirt. This Carlye vintage 1960s outfit has a pretty back bow and in...Category
1960s American Day Dresses
- 1980s Christian Lacroix Vintage White Linen Damask Tunic or Dress w Original TagBy Christian LacroixLocated in Portland, ORThis is a fabulous summer dress or tunic from Christian Lacroix from the 1980's in white linen. Though labeled a French size 38, this dress is oversized and almost a one size fits al...Category
1980s French Day Dresses
- Vintage 1970s Albert Nipon Halter Dress in Linen and Cotton Floral Print Size 2By Albert NiponLocated in Portland, ORThis is a beautiful vintage dress from Albert Nipon in a gorgeous linen cotton blend print with micro herringbone stripes and bold pink, yellow and white big flowers. One of the hal...Category
1970s Hong Kong Day Dresses
$225 Sale Price67% Off - Kaufmanfranco Ivory Crepe Cutout Dress With Cream Lambskin Leather SleevesBy KaufmanFrancoLocated in Portland, ORThis Kaufmanfranco ivory stretch crepe dress has fun cutouts in the bodice and fabulous cream leather sleeves. We love the interesting seam details that define the silhouette. Closes...Category
2010s Italian Evening Dresses and Gowns
- ALEXANDER MCQUEEN green silk PLATOS ATLANTIS PRAYING MANTIS GOWN Dress LBy Alexander McQueenLocated in Zürich, CHAlexander McQueen 'Praying Mantis' empire down in green silk (100%) with a round neck and is sleeveless. This collector piece is from the SS 2010 Platos Atlantis collection. Flares f...Category
2010s Unknown Cocktail Dresses
$11,000 Sale Price20% OffFree Shipping - Alberta Ferretti Gray Cotton Vintage Off Shoulder DressBy Alberta FerrettiLocated in Brindisi, BtAlberta Ferretti 90s vintage off shoulder dress. Short dress with sweetheart neckline, gray with white stitching. Zip closure along the chest, on th...Category
1990s Italian Cocktail Dresses
- Antik Batik Pink Silk Leather Kaftan Blouson DressLocated in Brindisi, BtAntik Batik women's vintage short dress. Powder pink color, 100% silk, applications sewn by hand 100% leather. V-neckline, elasticated waist belt, lined. 1...Category
1990s Indian Tunics and Wrap Dresses
- Yves Saint Laurent Silk Beaded Maxi DressBy Yves Saint LaurentLocated in Scottsdale, AZThis is a mid-century gem! This Yves Saint Laurent gown has details upon details. The most remarkable being the intricate beaded creating a pattern around the round neckline and the ...Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Maxi Dress
- 1980s Zandra Rhodes Abstract Motif Drop Waist Silk DressBy Zandra RhodesLocated in Scottsdale, AZLooking For The Perfect 80s Dress? Well It's Arrived! Circa 1980s, this Zandra Rhodes asymmetrical drop waist dress features a cream and black pattern of flowers, swirls and tribal i...Category
1980s English Evening Dresses
- Victorian Embroidered Batiste Lace Gown Hattie 1900sLocated in West Palm Beach, FLVictorian embroidered cotton batiste lace gown embroidered with the name Hattie from the early 1900s. This beautiful gown was never worn, it stil...Category
Early 1900s American Maxi Dresses