Valentino hates to be asked what elegance is, compared to him “everyone makes rags”

A glamorous fashion show in the Spanish Steps in Rome will mark the 90th anniversary of the Emperor of Fashion, who loves red and dogs

“Unfortunately, I’ve always liked only beautiful things” is one of Valentino Garavani’s famous phrases. It most accurately summarizes his credo in life.

He can’t stand being asked what elegance means, even though everyone in the world associates it with his style. Many like to recall another famous phrase, this time uttered by his late colleague Karl Lagerfeld. When he looks at the works of the Roman designer, the German whispers in his ear – “Compared to the two of us, the others make only rags.”

On May 11, the last emperor in fashion turned 90, as Valentino Clemente Ludovico Garavani was called in the 2008 documentary about him – that’s his real name. The designer, who has dressed dozens of Hollywood stars, will be celebrated with a glamorous fashion show on July 8 at the Spanish Steps in Rome, where his empire was born.

Valentino Garavani is the second child of Mauro and Teresa and was born in Vogue, near Milan. There he graduated from the school of graphics, where he mastered the art of graphic fashion design, but at the same time he studied French. He later moved to Paris, where he studied style at the Ecole de La Chambre Syndicale de la Couture. In the 1950s he moved to the French capital, where he collaborated in Guy LaRoche’s studio. After a few years he returned to Italy and settled in Rome, where he began working in the studio of Vincenzo Ferdinandi. In 1957, with several partners, including his father, he started his own fashion house. Due to the high costs and Valentino’s taste for luxury, she fell into a financial crisis and most of the partners withdrew. In 1959, the designer opened his studio on Via dei Condotti in Rome.

It was then that Giancarlo Giametti, the man who marked Valentino’s personal and professional life, appeared on the horizon. The two met for the first time on Via Veneto, Dolce Vita Street. Garavani was a 28-year-old talented designer at the time, and Jameti was a 22-year-old young man studying architecture but still doesn’t know what he wants to do with his life. They both immediately realize that they are made for each other.

Their love lasts 12 years both live together with their mothers Teresa and Lina

Valentino and Giancarlo are also professionally connected with each other – the first is dedicated to the creative part, and the second – to everything else in the company.

In 1962, Garavani triumphed at the Florence Fashion Week, where he presented his first collection at the Palazzo Pitti. As the youngest, he shows it on the last day and at the last hour. The success is so great that Americans are fighting over his clothes. All night after that, Valentino and Giancarlo filled in the orders from the buyers.

The fashion bible Vogue America dedicates its cover to it. The then director called Valentino and Giancarlo The Boys and the designer realizes that his time has come. The most influential ladies in New York run with Valentino, starting with Jackie Kennedy. A few years later, he created her wedding dress, this time for Jackie Onassis.

Valentino likes to go against the flow. In 1968 he presented a collection that is completely white. The letter V is depicted on the creations, which becomes an icon for the brand. The designer is already at the top of haute couture. His brand is crossing more and more borders – opening studios in Paris, Tokyo, Geneva, New York and Lausanne. It attracts the most famous and rich women like a magnet. And the famous Andy Warhol paid tribute to him by making a portrait of him in 1971.

Valentino’s style remains in the minds of all women around the world with elegance, exclusive fabrics, authentic luxury, precise to the point of maniacal technique in making the details. However, one element distinguishes it from all the others – Rosso Valentino, red valentino. This is a key that the stylist falls in love with after watching a performance at the Barcelona Opera. The designer sees on stage women dressed in this shade of red, which reminds him a lot of red geranium. He has carried it with him since childhood. As if imprinted in his mind is the moment when his mother takes him to her cousin’s house, preparing for the ball. Although the 13-year-old boy is ill and has a fever, he remains stunned by the red tulle dress. To this day, he loves to see this nuance everywhere, in all subjects, not just in clothing. Red is like a mascot for Valentino.

The designer is a champion and at most

actresses – 8, Oscar winners in his dresses

Among them are Sophia Loren, Elizabeth Taylor, Jane Fonda, Julia Roberts, Cate Blanchett. Valentino became a celebrity designer.

In 2007, he decided to retire from the stage and hand over his brand to other directors of his choice. But before that, Valentino Garavani celebrated 45 years of his brand with celebrations in Rome. 600 special guests attend the show performance of the Temple of Venus in the Roman Forum. For this purpose, it was “reproduced” in its original form through the scenography of Oscar winner Dante Ferretti.

On September 4, 2007, the Emperor officially said “goodbye” and since then the creative director of his fashion house has become Alessandra Faquineti. After only two seasons, however, she left, and was replaced by Marie Gracia Curie and Pier Paolo Piccioli. The two were together until 2016, when Curie became Dior’s creative director and Piccoli was left alone.

In January 2008, Valentino ended his career in Paris, where his fashion show at the Rodin Museum remains in the history of haute couture.

After that, the fashion dictator only works for certain projects, such as opera. In 2012, the Valentino fashion house passed into the hands of a Qatari company. Valentino’s headquarters are still located in Piazza Minyanelli in Rome, two steps from Plaza de España, where his boutique is located.

Long years Valentino lives in a castle with a park from 120 hectares

in the vicinity of Paris, which he bought in 1995. In Rome, his house is located on Apia Antica. There is also a house in London.

Although the relationship between Valentino and Giancarlo lasted for 12 years, the two remained firmly connected professionally. No one can make as much money as Giancarlo Giametti, who takes care of the financial part of the brand. Wherever he goes, Valentino is always in the company of his many entourage, including Jameti, his current partner and former model – the American Bruce, the Brazilian brothers Sean and Anthony, whom Valentino and Giancarlo are godparents and who are the sons of his former PR Carlos . They are part of his large family.

In the 1990s, his muse became Rosario Nadal, the former daughter-in-law of Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, whom he met in Mallorca.

All fans of Valentino know his other passion – dogs of the breed “Pug”. He owned 6 and they all have names starting with M – Molly, Milton, Monty, Margo, Maud, Maggie. When the Garavani family moves, they use three cars – one for Valentino, his partner and the dog Maud, the second for luggage, the third for the other dogs. He is so attached to them that he even wanted to be with him on the poster for his documentary at the Venice Film Festival in 2008.

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