Valentino Haute Couture Embellished Cocktail Dress, Circa 1960
View Similar Items
Valentino Haute Couture Embellished Cocktail Dress, Circa 1960
About the Item
- Designer:
- Brand:
- Dimensions:Length: 41.9 in (106.43 cm)Shoulder to Hem: 40.2 in (102.11 cm)
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use. Three little wear spots at the rear hem (not really visible).
- Seller Location:Geneva, CH
- Reference Number:Seller: 1DJD02871stDibs: LU5601195472
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.
- Courreges Sleeveless A-Line Maxi DressBy André CourrègesLocated in Geneva, CHThis late 60’s - early 70’s black cotton sateen Courreges maxi dress is a great example of the modernist design for which André Courrèges is famous. Of structured A-line silhouette and with unusual fishnet neckline, it is creating an advantageous effect. Labeled, this simple though sexy and elegant dress closes with a concealed zip, hook and eye on the left side plus three hooks on the left shoulder. Unlined, the size is a Courreges size b...Category
1670s French Maxi Dresses
- Balenciaga Haute Couture Moiré Cocktail Dress, Spring-Summer 1963By BalenciagaLocated in Geneva, CHThis lovely haute couture watered (moiré) silk taffeta dinner/cocktail dress is the ideal "Little Black Dress" for any perfect modern wardrobe. Labelled and numbered 84543, the dress...Category
1960s French Cocktail Dresses
- Alaia Knit Fitted DressBy Azzedine AlaïaLocated in Geneva, CHThis recognizable 90's Alaïa slim-fit viscose knit black dress is designed to flatteringly follow the silhouette. It nips-in at the waist and features a scoop collar. The dress can a...Category
1990s Italian Mini Dresses
$1,300 - Yves Saint Laurent Knit & Tulle Mini Dress, Fall-Winter 1988By Yves Saint Laurent, Yves Saint Laurent Rive GaucheLocated in Geneva, CHAnthony Vaccarello has dived into Saint Laurent's archives once more ! We can find a close inspiration of this original 80's dress in the current 2019 Fall-Winter collection (see pic...Category
1980s French Mini Dresses
- Emanuel Ungaro Draped Knotted Cut-Out Cocktail Dress, Circa 1985By Emanuel UngaroLocated in Geneva, CHDesigned more than thirty years ago, this 80's Ungaro Parallèle cocktail dress is still furiously trendy ! Made from taupe brown soft wool, it is artfully draped and knotted for a bo...Category
1980s European Cocktail Dresses
- Givenchy Printed Plunging Maxi DressBy GivenchyLocated in Geneva, CHWonderful 70's silhouette with this Givenchy maxi dress. Made of airy silk chiffon featuring a red and white graphic print, the dress has a deep plunging neckline at the front and re...Category
1970s French Maxi Dresses
- Dolce & Gabanna leopard print silk case dress, 2000sBy Dolce & GabbanaLocated in New York, NYDolce&Gabbana silk case dress with leopard print. Fastens with a zipper on the back, there is a slot on the skirt. Length - 101 cm Armpit to armpit - 41 cm Waist - 66 cm Hips - ...Category
Early 2000s Italian Cocktail Dresses
- Moschino Rare Teddy Valley of the Dolls - Runway DressBy Moschino CoutureLocated in Iba, PHMoschino RTW Spring 2017, Valley of the Dolls. One of Jeremy Scott's collection of life-size paper doll clothes. The trend has taken hold in a major way ...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Aesthetic Evening Dresses
- Givenchy Dress with AppliquesBy GivenchyLocated in Water Mill, NYA gorgeous sheer black organza shift dress with large gold beads encased in elaborate embroidery. The dress is sleeveless with a rounded neckline....Category
Early 2000s Italian Evening Dresses and Gowns
- Moschino Couture Dress with Sequin Peace Sign BackBy Moschino Couture, MoschinoLocated in Water Mill, NYA fabulous black silk halter dress from Moschino Couture. It is a wrap style dress which ties at the waist and has a band of gold sequins around the neck through to the back forming ...Category
1990s Italian Day Dresses
- Alexander McQueen Chic Shirtwaist DressBy Alexander McQueenLocated in Water Mill, NYA fabulous chic black shirtwaist dress by Alexander McQueen. The blouson bodice has a shirt collar, short cuffed dolman sleeves, a back yoke, shoulde...Category
Early 2000s Italian Day Dresses
- I. Magnin Linen 1960s Dress with Cut out WaistBy I Magnin and CoLocated in Water Mill, NYA great black 1960s linen dress from I.Magnin. It is sleeveless with a peter pan collar and princess seaming for a terrific fit. There is a panel around the waist with small prong set rhinestone embellished cut outs at the center front and the skirt has slightly gathered. The dress is lined in black silk, has a black painted back zipper and a removeable bow tie at the waist cut outs. Fits sizes Extra Small, Small. Marked US vintage...Category
1960s American Day Dresses
$275 Sale Price59% Off