Valentino Garavani – The last emperor of Italian fashion

Valentino Clemente Ludovico Garavani, the man who would redefine the meaning of elegance in the 20th century, was born on May 11, 1932, in the heart of Lombardy, among the gentle rolling hills of Voghera. From an early age, he demonstrated a unique sensitivity to design, colour and the harmony of shapes – a talent that would go on to blossom into one of the most influential careers in the history of haute couture.
While still a teenager, Valentino set off for Paris, then the undisputed epicentre of international fashion. It was in the French capital that he studied at the École des Beaux-Arts and the Chambre Syndicale de la Couture Parisienne, working with major designers, such as Jean Dessès and Guy Laroche. There he would learn the discipline of tailoring, the precision of movement and the ability to transform fabrics into visual narratives – the building blocks of an aesthetic language that would always combine technical discipline, sensuality and timelessness.

At the end of the 1950s, he returned to Italy hard set on building up his own creative universe. In 1959, he opened his fashion house on the Via Condotti in Rome, the city he would choose as the perfect setting for his creative empire. The name Valentino quickly became synonymous with ultimate glamour, attracting a clientele made up of actresses, aristocrats, princesses and first ladies.
It was also during this time that one of the most enduring hallmarks of contemporary fashion came into being: “Valentino red”. More than just a colour, this intense red – somewhere between scarlet and poppy – went on to become an emblem of power, passion and sophistication. Instantly recognisable on red carpets, magazine covers and at major international events, Valentino red transcended trends and cemented its place as a symbol of eternal luxury.

[...] Valentino red transcended trends and cemented its place as a symbol of eternal luxury.

Above all else, Valentino was an architect of elegance. His creations stood out for their pared-down silhouettes, flowing fabrics, delicate lace, bows, ruffles and embroidery executed with precision craftsmanship. Each dress was conceived as a work of art in motion, designed to accentuate femininity without excess, with restrained dramatic flair and absolute charm.
Over the course of more than five decades, Valentino dressed some of the most iconic women of his time. Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, who wore a white dress created by Valentino at her wedding to Aristotle Onassis, became one of his greatest muses. His inner circle – known as Val’s Girls – included names such as Elizabeth Taylor, Audrey Hepburn and Sophia Loren, figures who would help to immortalise the fashion house’s style in the collective imagination.

Each dress was conceived as a work of art in motion, designed to accentuate femininity without excess, with restrained dramatic flair and absolute charm.

In the 21st century, his creations continued to make their mark at historic moments in popular culture. In 2001, Julia Roberts received the Oscar for Best Actress while wearing a vintage black and white Valentino dress. Two years later, the designer reimagined a mint green dress originally created for Jackie Kennedy, which went on to be worn by Jennifer Lopez at the 2003 Oscars ceremony – a gesture that elegantly linked the past and the present.

In 2008, Valentino officially bid farewell to the catwalks, ending his creative career with a truly memorable show. He left his fashion house in the hands of a new generation, but left his vision intact: fashion as the supreme expression of beauty, emotion and culture. Even though he was no longer involved in day-to-day design, he still remained a revered figure, a symbol of an era when haute couture was synonymous with art and excellence.
Valentino Garavani passed away at the age of 93 at his home in Rome. His passing marks the end of an unprecedented era in Italian and international fashion. His legacy, however, lives on – in every timeless dress, every shade of red that evokes emotion, every woman who finds a source of unspoken power in elegance. Valentino did much more than simply dress bodies. He dressed dreams.He elevated fashion to an experience of luxury, memory, and poetry.

Over the course of more than five decades, Valentino dressed some of the most iconic women of his time.

Text: Carla Martins 
Photos: Rights Reserved