The mononymously known Italian designer Valentino Clemente Ludovico Garavani (b. 1932) is renowned for his fashion house of romantic styles and feminine shapes that he founded in Rome in 1960. 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 evening dresses, handbags and other items on 1stDibs now.
Valentino Vintage Silk Wedding Dress & Cathedral Lace Veil
By Valentino
Located in Mentone, CA
This exceptional silk wedding dress represents the pinnacle of bridal elegance and timeless sophistication. Crafted from luxurious buttery off-white silk with a subtle luminosity, th...
1990s Christian Dior Silk and Tulle Wedding Dress and Veil
By Christian Dior
Located in London, GB
This spectacular archival wedding dress was designed by Gianfranco Ferré for Christian Dior in the early 1990s. Throughout its history, the house of Dior has defined bridal opulence, setting the standard for a full-skirted aesthetic with the “New Look” in the 1940s. In the 1990s, under the creative direction of Gianfranco Ferré, the brand reimagined these silhouettes with a maximalist influence creating voluminous ball gowns featuring sculptural layering and opulent materials. This magnificent wedding dress is fashioned from a creamy shot-silk with a cinched waist and full, fairy tale skirt. The top is tailored to a wide off-shoulder cut with short-sleeves and there are two ruffled fabric spaghetti straps which sit atop the shoulder. Three layers of silk form a pleated look that sweeps in waves across the decolletage, fastening at the back with delicate fabric-covered buttons. The dress is corseted and has a sculpted, nipped waist that gives way to a basque waistband at the front and back. The top is lined with satin. The skirt is where the house of Dior’s fantastical tailoring shines. The shot-silk parts in a petal-shaped peplum over the top of a full-skirted tulle skirt, sweeping across the hips and down the back of the skirt where it gathers and is knotted together. From below this knot, a small train is formed which hangs over the tulle skirt underneath. The skirt is composed of six layers crafted from tulle, mesh, shot-silk and satin. Under this, there is an attached petticoat formed of ruffled-tulle and a final layer of satin. The gown fastens at the back with a hidden tonal zip which is lined in white lace on the interior. We have referenced a very similar dress design from the 1993 Dior bridal collection and a 1949 Dior wedding dress...
Amsale Aberra 1990's Champagne Duchess Satin A-Line Open BackWedding Gown
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Truly radiant bridal gown by the Ethiopian American designer, Amsale Aberra. Amsale's bridal designs are celebrated for the clean, modern, and classic designs that withstand the tren...
$3,686Sale Price|20% Off
Alberta Ferretti Wedding dress size S
By Alberta Ferretti
Located in Gazzaniga (BG), IT
2016 Alberta Ferretti sposa collection Ivory white color Two pieces: - Large epalouette top - Long skirt with trawl Lace top with sequins embroidery rhinestones and applications 7 Layers of tulle Top...
Valentino Ruffled Silk Gown US Size 6, Worn by Princess Mette-Marit
By Valentino
Located in Krakow, PL
The design is beautifully accented with delicate ruffles at the neckline, framing the décolletage with a touch of romantic charm. Cascading ruffles flow down the hem, adding movement...
$1,238Sale Price|24% Off
Size: Small
1960s An Original By Constantino White Beaded Couture Vintage Wedding Dress Gown
Located in San Diego, CA
Beautiful early 60s AN ORIGINAL BY CONSTANTINO white beaded, sequin, pearl long sleeve silk lace wedding dress ! Couture quality, with so much attention to details. Silk taffeta with...
Valentino New Cut out Silk Gown SS 2001
By Valentino
Located in Water Mill, NY
An incredible off white silk gown from Valentino. It is sleeveless with cut outs at the waist front, sides and back which including the chest décolletage are covered in fine black c...
Valentino New Oversized Cotton Dress with Bustle Back
By Valentino, Valentino Garavani
Located in Water Mill, NY
A stunning white cotton oversized shirt dress from Valentino. It has a shirt collar, a short button up vest under the bodice, elaborate draped sleeves and back draping from the shoul...
Valentino dress Haute Couture circa 1991
By Valentino
Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR
VALENTINO - Short fitted dress, black lace bustier top with a nude-color silk lining and thin velvet straps, and short black silk velvet skirt ornamented with openwork flower embroid...
White guipure dress on silk and tulle lining. Valentino
By Valentino
Located in Saint-Ouen-Sur-Seine, FR
White guipure dress on silk and tulle lining. THE NECKLESS ON THE PRIMARY IMAGE IS NOT A PART OF THE DRESS ( AND NOT INCLUDE) SIZE 8
Vintage Lace Wedding Gown with Scalloped Edges and Long Sleeves Size Small
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This vintage wedding gown is fabricated from layers of white lace featuring scalloped edges and satin. The scalloped neckline is adorned with seq...
VERA WANG White Tulle & Lace Wedding Gown With Gathered Bustier Size 4 10K
By Vera Wang
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This Vera Wang wedding gown is composed of layers of white tulle and lace . The bodice features a gathered detailing with a boned interior and center back zipper closure. In excellen...
CHRISTIAN DIOR COUTURE Provenance Betsy Bloomingdale Nude Silk Chiffon Gown
By Christian Dior
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This Christian Dior gown is composed of a nude silk. Features and elastic neckline and sleeves with a pleated waist, which may be style on or off the shoulders. Comes with a slip skirt and waist belt. In vintage condition, (sold AS-IS) there is some discoloration and spotting due to age, see photos. Provenance: Betsy Bloomingdale...
FE ZANDI White Lace Silk Embellished Dress Size 6
By Fe Zandi
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This Fe Zandi dress is composed of a white silk and lace combination. The lace features rhinestone and bead applique. There is a center back zipp...
TRAVILLA Lace Gown with Nude Underlay Size 4 6
By Travilla
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This Travilla design of an off white lace with a nude underlay. Features structured shoulders with pads and godet inserts at the hem. There is a zipper closure and scalloped edges t...
VICTOR COSTA Off White Iridescent Strapless Beaded Gown Size 2 4
By Victor Costa
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This Victor Costa gown is composed of an off white layered mesh with iridescent cascading beaded applique. There is a center back zipper closure with interior boning and bra. In gr...
