Designer Research: Valentino Garavani

Designer Research: Valentino Garavani

Erika Sadia
Intro. To Fashion Merchandising
Wayne State University
Betsy Marietti
2/8/16

Universally recognized in the fashion industry by just his first name,

Valentino Garavani built his reputation through his exquisite and inventive

Designer Research: Valentino Garavani

designs. Valentino haute couture captivates many people through the unique
designs and dresses he has created that exude sophistication, yet are
simultaneously sultry, in a tasteful manner. His influence in the fashion
industry grew the familiarity of the shade of red fabric used for his dresses,
Valentino red, his trademark. The Italian designer also managed to gain a
huge celebrity following throughout his career, even designing wedding
dresses for Jennifer Lopez and Jackie O.
Valentino Clemente Ludovico Garavani was born on May 11, 1932 in
Voghera, Lombardy, Italy, just north of Milan, one of the worlds fashion
capitals. Even at a young age, Valentino loved drawing and creating designs
and he began working in the fashion industry while in his high school years,
apprenticing under local designers, including his aunt. His passion then led
him to Paris where he studied at cole des Beaux-Arts and the Chambre
Syndicale de la Couture Parisienne. In that time, he also interned for Jacques
Fath and Balenciaga. Later, he began his professional apprenticeship at Jean
Desses for five years, aiding Jacqueline de Ribes with sketches of her ideas of
dresses. The following two years he continued his professional
apprenticeship, but under Guy Laroche. (Editors, n.d.)
In 1959, Valentino decided to return to Italy and open his own fashion
house Valentino - in Rome, influenced by the fashion houses he had seen in
Paris. The following year, Valentino met Giancarlo Giametti, his eventual
long-term romantic and business partner, who was really instrumental in
helping Valentinos company flourish after an associate of Valentinos father

Designer Research: Valentino Garavani

pulled out money from the business and Valentino had to fight against
bankruptcy (Valentino, n.d.). Valentinos international debut, and real
breakthrough in his career and in the fashion industry, came about in 1962
at an international fashion show at the Pitti Palace in Florence. Valentinos
designs provoked the interests of many buyers, socialites, and aristocratic
women from around the world at this show, developing his designer
reputation. By 1967, Valentinos success had brought him accolades when he
received the Neiman Marcus Fashion Award. Among his many famous clients
were Queen Paola of Belgium, Elizabeth Taylor, Audrey Hepburn, and Jackie
O., which really showed the extent of his success. His constant client was
Jackie O. who wore Valentino black and white dresses the year following the
assassination of her late husband, John F. Kennedy, and a Valentino-original
to her wedding with Aristotle Onassis in 1968 (Editors, n.d.). This created
huge exposure for Valentino as Jackie was such a prominent social and
fashion figure at the time. Jackie remained a friend as well as a loyal client to
Valentino, linking his name to her own in the fashion world.
Later in his successful career, Valentino and Giametti sold their fashion
house in 1998 to an Italian conglomerate, Holding di Partecipazioni Industriali
(HdP), for approximately $300 million. They had put Valentino in the same
apparel unit as GFT Net and Fila to grow their global luxury aspirations, but it
did not go as planned. This was not as successful of an acquisition as HdP
had anticipated as the conglomerates financial performance continued to
decline and Valentino's losses grew from 23 million ($25.8 million) in 1999

Designer Research: Valentino Garavani

to 25.5 million euro in 2000. (Gallbraith, 2002). As fashion reflects the

economy, the economic downturn made it very difficult for buyers and HdP
to agree on Valentino prices, and difficult for luxury goods in general as they
are incredibly elastic in terms of the economy. While Valentino was still
actively involved in the company, these problems led to HdP selling the
Valentino brand to Marzotto Apparel in 2002 (Editors, n.d.).
Valentinos fashion house is the root of his many other brands including
RedValentino, Valentino Garavani, Valentino Roma, Valentino Uomo, Miss V,
Oliver, and Valentino Piu. His classic, original designs that are popular on the
red carpet can be found under the Valentino label. RedValentino contains a
more feminine and seductive line whereas Valentino Roma contains a more
casual line for women that is intended for the everyday woman. The
Valentino Garavani line is directed towards men and women, providing
accessories such as bags, shoes, and leather goods. The Valentino house
even includes a menswear brand, Valentino Uomo. The Miss V and Oliver
labels were more directed towards the younger and casual audience that is
more affordable. The black sheep amidst these clothing labels is Valentinos
home dcor line, Valentino Piu, that brings the same elegance on the
runways into homes (Consignment, 2013).
Towards the end of his active career before retirement, Valentino still
maintained the recognition of his name. In 2006, Valentino made a cameo as
himself in The Devil Wears Prada. In 2007, he had announced his retirement
for the following year. By 2008, Valentino displayed his last ready-to-wear

Designer Research: Valentino Garavani

collection at the Muse Rodin in Paris. Also during that year, a documentary
following Valentino during his last two years prior to retirement, entitled
Valentino: The Last Emperor, premiered at the Venice International Film
Festival (Valentino, n.d.).
I chose to research Valentino because his designs have always
fascinated me and inspired me in my own personal style with the way his
designs find a way to be sexy and sophisticated, and are unafraid of mixing
patterns. I extremely adore how Valentino often incorporates floral designs
into clothing and executes it without being tacky or overused. Better yet,
floral is reintroduced to me by his designs in the different ways in which it is
incorporated. I also respect the fact that as he started from such a young
age, he was always driven by his passion to simply create for himself.

Designer Research: Valentino Garavani

Citations
Consignment, C. (2013, September 11). Valentino's Lines and Designs - Cida's Consignment.
Retrieved February 07, 2016, from http://www.cidasconsignment.com/valentinos-lines
-and-designs/
Editors, Biography.com. (n.d.). Valentino Biography. Retrieved February 07, 2016, from
http://www.biography.com/people/valentino-21354709#early-life-and-career
Gallbrath, R. (2002, January 15). Italian Group Eager To Sell Off Valentino. Retrieved February
7, 2016, from http://www.nytimes.com/2002/01/15/news/15iht-rhdp_ed3_.html
Valentino | Fashion Designer Biography. (n.d.). Retrieved February 07, 2016, from
http://www.famousfashiondesigners.org/valentino