"Elegance is the balance between proportion, emotion, and surprise."

Life• Valentino Clemente Ludovico

Garavani, was born on 11 May 1932 in Voghera, a small town between Turin and Milan, in the north of Italy.

• Throughout his childhood he took a keen interest in fashion and also became fascinated by painting, sculpture and architecture.

• In 1949 he enrolled in fashion sketching course in Santa Marta Institute in Milan.

• High living : Valentino owns marvellous villas and

apartments around the world, all boasting an extensive array of art pieces, one of them being a villa on the Via Appia Antica, a major historical landmark of Rome.

Valentino also spends much time on T. M. Blue One, his hundred-and-fifty-two-foot long yacht boasting a full-time staff of eleven, and a selection of art ranging from Picassos to Andy Warhol.

Work • Valentino’s career got off to a

flying start when, as a student, he won a competition for fashion design run by the International Wool Secretariat. It was a prestigious award which led to a job at the couture house of Jean Dessès.

• After completing his apprenticeship with Guy Laroche in 1957, Valentino started his first studio in Rome.

• When Valentino was learning his craft, he paid a visit to opera in Barcelona and was struck by the fact that all the costumes onstage were RED.

• He realized that after black and white there was no finer colour and so while making his own clothes he favoured red above all colours.

• In 1960 Valentino collaborated with Giancarlo Giammetti , who managed the commercial development of the House of Valentino

• His first collection in 1962 at the international fashion at Gotha in the Palazzo Pitti, Florence was a triumphant success.

• In 1970 Valentino launched his Ready-to-Wear collections

• He opened his first menswear shop and home furnishing shop Valentino Più in Rome in 1971.

• First fashion show of ready-to-wear collection took place in Paris in 1975.

• 1978 was when he launched Valentino Perfume.• First administrative offices were opened in 1980

in the US and Japan.

• First show of Haute Couture collection took place in 1989.

• He made his actual garments in 1991, when they were included in his retrospective show : ‘Valentino, Thirty Years of Magic’.

1. Table décor2. Valentino, Sophia Loren, and

Giancarlo Giametti make an entrance at the Gala Opening of the retrospective exhibition, "Valentino Thirty Years of Magic." September 22, 1992.

3. Paparazzi awaiting for the gilded guests.

• In January 1994, Valentino presented his first ever costume designs at the Eisenhower Theatre, Washington.

• In 1995, his return to Italy was celebrated by a fashion show in Florence

Other Appearances

• The book ‘Valentino’ got published in 1982• In 1989 the "Accademia Valentino", a cultural

space located near his couture atelier in Rome, for the presentation of art exhibitions, was opened.

• In February 1990, Valentino and Giametti found an association working against AIDS.

Movie appearances : • In 2006 Valentino did a

cameo role as himself in the hit movie The Devil Wears Prada.

• “Valentino: The Last Emperor” a feature-length documentary on the designer premiered at the 2008 Venice International Film Festival.

Valentino for CelebritiesGaravani designed a wedding dress for his loyal client Jacqueline Kennedy.

Gwyneth Paltrow, Julia Roberts, Halle Berry, Cindy Crawford

1. Anne Hathway in vintage Valentino2. Jennifer Hudson in custom-made Valentino3. Eva Mendes in vintage Valentino4. Uma Thurmon in Valentino Couture5. Sarah Jessica Parker in vintage Valentino

• Jennifer Aniston In Valentino’s one shoulder dress

• Sophia Loren in a black red carpet dress designed by Valentino

Valentino Boutiques

• Avenue Montaigne, Paris• Milan• Rome• New York• Tokyo• Bangkok• Honululu• Buenos Aires, Argentina• Dallas• Atlanta

Reputation and Achievements

• Valentino was recognized as the top name in Italian Haute Couture in 1965.

• In 1967 he was awarded the Neiman Marcus Prize in Dallas (equivalent of an Oscar in the world of fashion)

• Valentino’s reputation was secured with the enormous success of his ‘Collezione Bianca’, the first clothes and accessories to have the magic label ‘V’ label

• In 1984 celebrated his 25 years of business and received an official award from the Minister of Industry.

• In 1985 he was awarded the Grand ‘Ufficiale dell’ Ordine al Merito by the President of Italy.

• Valentino was named Cavaliere del Lavoro in 1996.• He also won a CFDA Life Achievement award in 2000.• In 2005 he was awarded the Superstar award at the

Fashion Group International Night of the Stars.• In 2006 President Chirac of France awarded Valentino with final jewel in the crown of his achievements: Chevalier de la Légion d'honneur.

• Valentino received a Rodeo Drive Walk of Style Award on April 2, 2009.

Valentino CollectionValentino's trademark red colour, known as Rosso

Valentino, is a combination of 100% magenta, 100% yellow and 10% black (CMYK colour model)

Valentino Haute Couture• Valentino offers variety of collections made up of unique items singularly handcrafted in the prestigious atelier situated in Rome.• The Valentino brand includes various collections of wedding dresses, eyewear, watches, fragrances for men and women.

Valentino Garavani• Focused on handbags, footwear, belts, small leather goods and bijoux for both men and women. • Haute Couture details appear in all of these refined creations, majority of which are handmade.

Valentino Prêt-à-Porter• Valentino Prêt-à-Porter presents sophisticated, exclusive lines for men and women intended for an elegant, but unconventional young clientele belonging to the new jet set.• It has a less distinct style, appealing to a broader range of consumers, and is more readily found in the marketplace. • It is a collection designed to be worn on all occasions, particularly easy to wear and versatile.

Price Levels

• Valentino is a luxury brand.• The fashion market comprises of five

segments or "price levels": budget, moderate, better, bridge, and designer.

• Valentino designs for bridge and designer segments, i.e, the high end fashion which includes Haute Couture and Demi-Couture.

Business in the Valentino Fashion House

• Valentino Garavani and Giancarlo Giammetti pocketed about $260m when they completed the sale of their Valentino fashion group to Holding di Partecipazioni Industriali (HdP), a diversified Milanese conglomerate.

• Retailing revenue rose at a “double-digit” pace in the last two months before his retirement.

• The creative directors are : Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pier Paolo Piccoli.

Competitors of Valentino

• Dolce and Gabbana• Versace• Giorgio Armani• Miuccia Prada

Valentino’s Inspiration & Influences

Poppy Red colour fascinates Valentino since it signifies- the colour of life, blood and death, passion and love, and is the ultimate colour for sadness too.

Animal Prints

The background on the right is symbolic of the designer’s Roman identity

He used the Animal Prints in his designs in the 1960s for dressing the stars

1. Bold Graphics

2. Inspired by the geometrical drawings of Wiener Werkstätte

The Arabian Influence

Satin clothing and purity of white

1. Inspired by the Incas

2. A change of scenery with a change of colour

1. Fakes

Massacre of animals can now be avoided, so why go on killing ?

2. Turn-of-the-century traditional Russian Costume

The Hoffmann Influence

The entire collection is inspired by the Austrian architect Josef Hoffmann

1.The white collection

The pleated flounce cuffs belonged to Audrey Hepburn, Valentino’s muse

2. The Orchid collection

Laces and asymmetrical necklines

Valentino’s dream design with his favourite themes- use of black and white drapery

Retirement

• After 45 years in fashion, 75 year old designer, Valentino Garavani finally hung up his needle and thread.

• On September 4, 2007 Valentino announced that he would retire fully from the world stage after his last Haute-Couture show in Paris. He delivered his last women's Ready-to-wear show in Paris on October 4 to rapturous applause.

• Alessandra Facchinetti, who previously designed for Gucci now designs for the Valentino Fashion House.

In order to celebrate the 45th anniversary of Valentino's career a fashion extravaganza took place in Rome at the Valentino Museum.

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