VALENTINO metallic gold leather RUFFLED Evening Bag
About the Item
- Designer:
- Brand:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:Zürich, CH
- Reference Number:
Valentino Garavani
The mononymously known Italian designer Valentino Clemente Ludovico Garavani is renowned for his fashion house of romantic styles and feminine shapes that he founded in Rome in 1960. Beautiful Valentino dresses, skirts and other apparel captured the hearts of many of Italy’s wealthiest ladies in the couturier’s early days and led to commissions from Babe Paley, Gloria Guinness, Jayne Wrightsman and others on the international best-dressed list (when it still meant something). They sought out Valentino for gorgeous gowns, jackets, elegant daytime wear and even when they needed wedding dresses.
An early fascination with fashion developed when Valentino attended the theater as a child and was dazzled by the evening gowns on stage. While a teenager in Voghera, Lombardy, he studied under Italian designer Ernestina Salvadeo and soon moved to Paris, where he trained at the École des Beaux-Arts and the Chambre Syndicale de la Couture Parisienne. Valentino spent time apprenticing under haute couturiers Jean Dessès and Guy Laroche, learning how to design and construct high fashion while also thinking about how to strike out on his own.
In 1959, Valentino returned to Italy, and a year later, he opened his own salon, soon joining with longtime professional and personal partner Giancarlo Giammetti. It was located on Rome’s trendy Via Condotti and modeled after the French maisons. One of his earliest clients was Elizabeth Taylor, who discovered Valentino while she was in Rome filming Cleopatra and ordered the white dress that she wore to the premiere of Spartacus.
When the designer launched his first couture line in 1962 with its fiery red colors, it was internationally celebrated, with Valentino soon attiring fashion trendsetters including Princess Margaret and Audrey Hepburn. He formed an especially close friendship with Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, for whom he designed numerous dresses. Luxurious drapery with fine needlework, bold uses of color and dramatic flourishes would define Valentino fashion across the decades.
As a fashion house, Valentino is best known for its signature Valentino Red color, though one of its iconic lines is the monochromatic “no colour” collection for which the designer won the Neiman Marcus Award in 1967. (The collection also debuted his trademark “V.”) The white dresses and beige dresses led to a demand for Valentino wedding gowns, with clients including Elizabeth Taylor, Jennifer Lopez and Anne Hathaway.
Valentino retired from his fashion empire in 2007, with Alessandra Facchinetti and then the duo Maria Grazia Chiuri (who departed in 2016) and Pierpaolo Piccioli succeeding him as creative directors. But Valentino still steps out of retirement for special occasions, such as designing a wedding gown for Princess Madeleine of Sweden in 2013.
Today, the brand offers a range of collections that include the Valentino Garavani line and REDValentino, a diffusion line that is aimed at a younger audience. The house has expanded far beyond women’s haute couture and prêt-à-porter to encompass various lines of accessories, including shoes, sunglasses, scarves and perfume.
Find vintage Valentino Garavani evening dresses, handbags and other items on 1stDibs now.
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: Zürich, Switzerland
- Return PolicyThis item cannot be returned.
- HERMES black Liegee leather BOLIDE 35 BagBy HermèsLocated in Zürich, CH100% authentic Hermes 'Bolid 35' in black Vache Liegee (grained leather) with palladium hardware. Opens with zipper on top. Lined in black lambskin with one open pocket against the b...Category
21st Century and Contemporary French Crossbody Bags and Messenger Bags
- CELINE burgundy leather SMALL TIE Tote BagBy CelineLocated in Zürich, CH100% authentic Céline Small Tie bag in smooth burgundy calfskin and gold-tone hardware. The design features knotted handles and wide side gussets with strap c...Category
2010s Italian Structured Shoulder Bags
- HERMES blue Nuit Epsom leather VERROU 21 STRAP Shoulder BagBy HermèsLocated in Zürich, CH100% authentic Hermès Verrou 21 large shoulder bag in Bleu Nuit Veau Epsom (calfskin) featuring Palladium silver-tone hardware. Bag opens with a Palladium pl...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Structured Shoulder Bags
- CELINE oatmeal brown burgundy canvas & leather MINI LUGGAGE Tote BagBy CelineLocated in Zürich, CH100% authentic Céline Mini Luggage handbag in beige canvas with dark brown and burgundy calfskin trim and a zipped front pocket. Opens with a zipper on the top and is lined in dark b...Category
2010s Italian Structured Shoulder Bags
- CELINE fuchsia pink Drummed leather NANO LUGGAGE Tote BagBy CelineLocated in Zürich, CH100% authentic Celine Nano Luggage cross body tote bag in fuchsia pink drummed calfskin featuring antique gold-tone hardware. Opens with a zipper on top and is lined in pink suede wi...Category
2010s Italian Structured Shoulder Bags
- CELINE black leather 2015 CROC EMBOSSED SMALL BELT BagBy CelineLocated in Zürich, CH100% authentic Céline by Pheobe Philo Small Belt bag in black crocodile embossed leather with smooth calf leather flap. Features a zip pocket on the outside back. Closes with flap an...Category
2010s Italian Structured Shoulder Bags
- Chanel Vintage Gold Metallic CC Tassel Crossbody BagBy ChanelLocated in Scottsdale, AZThis is the most amazing and luxurious handbag from the House of Chanel! Don't miss out on the chance to have a piece of Chanel history with this gem from the 1980's. Everything is better vintage...Category
1980s French Crossbody Bags and Messenger Bags
- Chanel Gold Mini Diamond Quilted CC Crossbody BagBy ChanelLocated in Miami, FLChanel Gold Mini Diamond Quilted CC Crossbody Bag circa 2012-2013 gold-tone leather square body diamond quilting gold-tone hardware signature interlo...Category
2010s Italian Crossbody Bags and Messenger Bags
- Chanel Rare Vintage Transparent Clear Naked Gold Classic Medium Flap BagBy ChanelLocated in Miami, FLChanel Transparent Classic Medium Flap Bag 2001 {Vintage 21 Years} Metallic gold lambskin piping Interwoven gold lambskin chain Shoulder strap can be worn single, crossbody (25.5"...Category
Early 2000s French Structured Shoulder Bags
- Chanel 2004 CC Vintage Rare Classic Flap Charcoal Ultra Grey Tweed Shoulder BagBy ChanelLocated in Miami, FLChanel charcoal multi colored fantasy tweed flap with large CC logo and turnlock CC clasp closure 2004 {VINTAGE 19 Years} Silver hardware Black lambskin lined interior flap Black graffitti interior lining Center zipper pocket Interwoven chain Strap drop: Single 12” Double 9” 7” H x 11” W x 2.55” D Made in France As seen on celebrities like Mischa Barton and Diane Kruger...Category
Early 2000s Italian Crossbody Bags and Messenger Bags
- Chanel 1989 Two Tone Black and White Vintage Flap BagBy ChanelLocated in Miami, FLChanel Two Tone Black and White Vintage Flap Bag 1989 {VINTAGE 33 Years} Lamsbkin leather Classic back pocket Gold hardware Interwoven classic chai...Category
1980s French Structured Shoulder Bags
- Chanel Classic Flap Vintage 90's Soft Chevron Fringe Pink Lambskin Leather BagBy ChanelLocated in Miami, FLChanel Soft Pink Chevron Fringe Lambskin Flap Bag 1989 {VINTAGE 33 Years} CC logo Stitched detail Magnetic clasp closure Beige interior lambskin lining Center zippered pocket Hangin...Category
1980s Italian Crossbody Bags and Messenger Bags