Valentino Garavani in Rome with his models, circa 1999.Photo: Pascal Chevallier / Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images
“Valentino, live 100 years!” declared Jacqueline Kennedy in 1966. It’s a sentiment we’d like to repeat as the designer celebrates his 90th year – in great style, of course.
Valentino Garavani has the rare distinction of having his own Pantone colour, Valentino Red, and in lieu of a toast we’ve collected a host of elegant looks in his namesake colour. “When you see a woman in a beautiful red evening dress, it’s really something special,” Valentino has said, and he’s proved the point over and over since showing his first red dress, called Fiesta in 1959. “Valentino has superstitions that became status symbols. He did red once, and now you have red in every collection,” his business partner Giancarlo Giammetti told Vogue in 1985. “Most of our statements came to be because we are romantic; we don’t like to throw away things we like or that bring good luck.” Here’s wishing continued good fortune to the designer whose red dresses serve as a reminder that Roma spelled backwards is Amor.
Valentino, autumn/winter 1991 ready-to-wear.
Valentino, autumn/winter 1992 couture.
Valentino, autumn/winter 1992 couture.
Valentino, autumn/winter 1992 ready-to-wear.
Valentino, autumn/winter 1992 couture.
Valentino, autumn/winter 1993 ready-to-wear.
Backstage at the spring/summer 1994 ready-to-wear show.
With Elle MacPherson at the Met Gala, 1995.
Women Under the Stars show in Rome, fall 1996
Valentino, fall 1996 couture
Valentino, spring/summer 1998 ready-to-wear
Valentino, autumn/winter 1998 ready-to-wear.
Valentino, spring/summer 1996 ready-to-wear.
Valentino, autumn/winter 1996 ready-to-wear.
Valentino, autumn/winter 1999 couture,
Valentino, autumn/winter 1998 ready-to-wear.
Valentino, autumn/winter 2000 ready-to-wear.
Valentino, spring/summer 2002 couture.
Claudia Schiffer in Valentino at the Golden Globes, 2000.
Valentino, spring/summer 2000 couture.
Valentino, autumn/winter 2000 ready-to-wear.
Elle MacPherson in Valentino at the BAFTAs.
Valentino, spring 2001 couture.
Laura Linney in Valentino at the Vanity Fair Oscar Party, 2001.
Kim Cattrall in Valentino at the Golden Globes, 2003.
Valentino, autumn/winter 2002 couture.
Valentino, autumn/winter 2007 couture.
Valentino, spring/summer 2002 couture.
Valentino, autumn/winter 2002.
Valentino, autumn/winter 2003 ready-to-wear.
Valentino, autumn/winter 2001 ready-to-wear.
Sienna Miller, in Valentino, for the designer's 45th Anniversary Celebration, 2007.
Valentino, autumn/winter 2002 couture.
Valentino, spring/summer 2003 ready-to-wear.
Jade Jagger in Valentino at the 2004 Met Gala.
Penelope Cruz in Valentino at The Last Samurai premiere, 2004.
Valentino, spring/summer 2003 couture.
Valentino, spring/summer 2003 ready-to-wear.
Valentino, autumn/winter 2003 couture.
Valentino, autumn/winter 2004 couture.
Valentino, autumn/winter 2005 ready-to-wear.
Valentino, autumn/winter 2004 ready-to-wear.
Jennifer Garner in Valentino at the Golden Globes, 2005.
Valentino, autumn/winter 2001 couture.
Scarlett Johansson in Valentino at the Golden Globes, 2006.
Iman in Valentino at a Keep A Child Alive benefit, 2006.
Minnie Driver in Valentino at the 2006 Met Gala.
Valentino, spring/summer 2006 couture.
Valentino, spring/summer 2007 ready-to-wear.
Valentino, autumn/winter 2006 ready-to-wear.
Valentino, spring/summer 2007 ready-to-wear.
Valentino, spring/summer 2007 ready-to-wear.
Joy Bryant in Valentino at the SAG Awards, 2007.
Valentino’s 45 Years Of Style exhibition on display at the Ara Pacis Museum in Rome, 2007.
Jennifer Garner in Valentino at the 2007 Met Gala.
Miley Cyrus in Valentino at the Academy Awards, 2008.
Olga Kurylenko in Valentino at the Quantum of Solacepremiere, 2008.
Valentino, spring/summer 2008 couture.
Valentino, spring/summer 2008 ready-to-wear.
Valentino, autumn/winter 2002 couture.
Anne Hathaway in Valentino at the Academy Awards, 2011.
Valentino Garavani with Natalia Vodianova, in a dress of his design, at a benefit for The Naked Heart Foundation, 2011.
