Viva Italia! Valentino

The next Italian fashion designer in the Viva Italia series is Valentino! Born in Lombardy, Italy in 1932, Valentino Clemente Ludovico Garavani loved fashion from a young age. He got his start in the fashion industry very young under the apprenticeship of his aunt Rosa and other local designers.

His love of fashion continued into adulthood. He studied in Paris at the École des Beaux-Arts and the Chambre Syndicale de la Couture Parisienne for his formal training. But, his heart was in Italy, where he returned in 1959 to open his fashion house in Rome. His Parisian training was a big influence in his early work . He modeled his fashion house on the grand houses he admired in Paris.

Vintage Valentino Black Linen Asymmetrical Dress

In his early work, Valentino was recognized for his love of a particular shade of red, quickly nicknamed “Valentino Red”. In 1962, Valentino emerged on the international fashion scene with the help of his partner Giancarlo Giammetti. The debut was at the Pitti Palace in Florence. The show was instrumental in cementing Valentino’s reputation and international appeal. He quickly became an icon of Italian couture. He began to dress clients like Audrey Hepburn, Elizabeth Taylor, and Jacqueline Kennedy.

Valentino created many lines over the course of his career, including Valentino, Valentino Garavani, Valentino Roma and R.E.D. Valentino. Valentino is still a favorite in the fashion world today. He is just one of many examples of Italy’s finest fashion designers. Check back soon for the next Viva Italia designer spotlight!

For more Valentino, check out Back In Style’s Valentino page here!

The post Viva Italia! Valentino appeared first on The Vintage Fashionistas.