Valentino

Think Valentino: think luxury. Think elegance. Think red carpet. Fashion's most beloved upholder of refined decadence is known simply by his first name. Only a few years after opening his fashion house in Rome in 1959, Valentino was already at the height of success, counting Elizabeth Taylor, Jackie Kennedy, and Audrey Hepburn among his devotees. Over forty years later, not much has changed, though now his business is a major economic force in Italy. Valentino has always designed clothes for glamorous women, never wavering from his signature style even when grunge, deconstruction, and other passing fads were all the rage. Though his couture division almost never makes a profit (his ready-to-wear lines are what fuel the business), his heart is most solidly devoted to the magnificent haute couture gowns.
This publication renders homage to Valentino's illustrious career via a copious selection of images from his archives, including drawings, magazine shoots, advertisements, portraits of Valentino, and documentary photographs; presented chronologically, the visual material is accompanied by a vast array of newspaper and magazine articles about Valentino throughout the years. All of these elements add up to an in-depth look at the man, his lifestyle, and his genius-a book more comprehensive and stunning than one could hardly dare to dream of.