The History of Valentino
The brand was created by none other than Valentino Garavini himself. Born in Lombardy, Italy in 1932 Valentino was interested in fashion from a young age and at 17 moved to Paris to study at Chambre Syndicale de la Couture Parisienne. In the following years Valentino worked in designer Guy Laroche’s atelier from 1957 to 1959 until branching off to create his own brand. In 1960 Valentino partnered with architect Giancarlo Giammette to create his own atelier in Rome.
Is Valentino Garavini the same as Valentino?
Yes and no!
Valentino Garavini is the full name of the iconic designer best known for his first name.
Valentino S.p.A (Società per Azioni - the Italian equivalent of a publicly traded company) is the name of the fashion house. Products under this label primarily consist of clothing and ready-to-wear couture.
Valentino Garavini is the diffusion line under the Valentino fashion house which encompasses handbags, shoes, and small leather goods.
What is Valentino best known for?
Valentino is best known for the color Valentino red or “Valentino Rosso”. According to the brand “Red is Valentino… it is synonymous with the House. The wider cultural meanings of red align with our perceptions of Valentino - it is a colour of optimism and auspiciousness, of authority and abundance, of passion and love.”
In addition, Valentino is also known for the iconic Rockstuds incorporated into shoes, handbags, and accessories. The Rockstud was first introduced by creative directors Pierpaolo Piccioli and Maria Grazia Chiur in 2010 featured on a low-heeled pointed toe pump. The Rockstud motif was inspired by the “bugnatos” (bossages) that can be found on Palazzo-style buildings in Rome which is an ode to the birthplace of the fashion house.
What are the most popular Valentino bags?
As you might expect most of the brand's most popular bags are those which include elements making them immediately identifiable as Valentino pieces such as the Rockstud or “V” emblem. This can also be kept in mind when deciding which bags will retain their value the most. Bags on this list include the Rockstud Camera bag, Roman Stud Top-Handle bag, and the VSling bag.