Valentino Garavani

Valentino Garavani is an Italian born fashion designer famous for his Valentino haute couture fashion line. In 2008, he announced his retirement after 45 years in the business. Valentino Garavani and the city of Rome were planning to have a museum to show case Valentino's life's work. http://www.theromanforum.com/?p=6456

'Valentino: The Last Emperor'

Valentino: The Last Emperor is a movie which documents the career and dramatic life of the designer Valentino Garavani.The movie focuses on the relationship between Valentino and Giancarlo Giammetti, Valentino's long time partner. It was premiered 2008 Venice International Film Festival. The movie is directed by Matt Tyrnauer. It's DVD version was released on September 8, 2009.

Valentino Garavani was born in Italy on May 11, 1932. He learned the basics of his craft from his aunt Rosa and a local designer Ernestina Salvadeo. When he was 17, Valentino moved to Paris. http://www.msstate.edu/school/humansciences/HistoricCostumes/page7.html After apprenticing with Jean Dessès and Guy Laroche he moved to Rom and started his own company in 1960. His fist collection was shown in 1962. By that time Giancarlo Giammetti has became his business partner. By 1965 Valentino was recognized as a the top name in Italian Haute Couture. In 1968 he designed the wedding dress for Jacqueline Kennedy, when she married Aristotle Onassis. He designed the Olympics uniform for the Italian athletes in 1984. Valentino's first arstic bilography was published Franco Maria Ricci in 1982. Valentino was awarded the Italian highest honor in 1986. He received life time achievement award in 2000 American Designer Awards in New York. http://kunkun.tripod.com/valentino.htm http://www.msstate.edu/school/humansciences/HistoricCostumes/page7.html Followers of his designs are called Val's Girls.Val's Girls are usually wealthy women.http://www.msstate.edu/school/humansciences/HistoricCostumes/page7.html.

Valentino's last show was presented in Paris on January 23, 2008 at the Musee Rodin. The following day he was presented the Medal of the City of Paris. While Valentino presented his last collection to a standing ovation, his label will live on with other designers. Valentino's accessories designers Maria Grazia and Pier Paulo Piccioli are the new designers.