REMEMBERING VALENTINO GARAVANI THROUGH HIS BODY OF WORK
words by VERONICA TLAPANCO SZABÓ
You know Alessandro Michele’s Valentino. You know Pierpaolo Piccioli’s Valentino. But do you still remember Valentino by Valentino? With the passing of Valentino Garavani at 93, we look back at the designer not only as an undisputed star of fashion but as a central figure in Italian cultural history. For Valentino, fashion was joy, a profoundly serious kind of joy at that! Which still carries on to this day!
When he retired in 2008, the meaning of luxury had already shifted, but his half-century of couture remained untouched in its conviction. Retrospectives followed across Europe. Somerset House in London staged Valentino: Master of Couture in 2012, displaying more than a hundred creations up close, each labeled with the wearer’s name. Royalty, divas, socialites and stars all of the arts wore his designs. He was the first Italian couturier fully accepted by the Paris establishment, though his heart stayed loyal to the Italian tradition of skilled dressmakers who put the wearer first. That loyalty made him beloved by women who understood the need for craftsmanship. Sophia Loren, Audrey Hepburn, Cate Blanchett just to name a few. Valentino lived to make women look beautiful, and women responded by becoming legends in his clothes. We must say that the history of the house is best traced garment by garment, so we present you our own retrospective on Valentino by Valentino:
all images via ielfs.com
He also gave us a vision. La Dolce Vita, beyond the film of course, as a way of life. A rare gentleness that insists that delight matters and Valentino carried that with him through his entire career. So much so that this philosophy reached all parts of the world and his awards were global. Yet what he cherished the most was becoming a chevalier of the Légion d’honneur in 2006. This is exceptional considering that at the time the French doubted serious Italian couture could even exist.
all images via ielfs.com
And then there was red. His red. Born from attending the Barcelona Opera, there Valentino decided that the shade was so impossible to ignore and needed to become his signature. “A woman dressed in red is always wonderful, it is the perfect picture of a heroine,” he said.
images via ielfs.com and GettyImages
Valentino Garavani will be greatly missed, looking back on his work, even from afar, we can all learn from his art of paying patient attention to bodies and their spirit. Thank you for everything Valentino.