Valentino. The mere mention of the name likely brings to your thoughts not just apparel, accessories, or footwear, but a specific hue of red. This distinct shade, known as Valentino red, has carved its niche in the annals of fashion.
The Genesis of the Valentino Fashion Empire
Recognizable by just his first name, he is Valentino Clemente Ludovico Garavani, born on May 11, 1932, in Voghera, within Milan’s province. His journey in fashion was direct and unwavering: showing a passion for fashion at a young age, he pursued his dream with his family’s encouragement by studying to become a designer at the Institute of Via Santa Marta, in Milan. Chasing his aspirations to Paris, he joined the Fédération de la Haute Couture et de la Mode. Early career steps included apprenticeships under Jean Dessès and Guy Laroche. However, Valentino’s fate was not to remain in the shadows; he aspired to establish his own label. Consequently, in 1959, the aspiring designer inaugurated his inaugural studio on Rome’s Via Condotti, introducing a signature hue to his collections, a color that would symbolize the “emperor of fashion.”
https://mvcmagazine.com/rosso-valentino-il-colore-piu-hot/
A Red Defined by Vision
This color, the Valentino red, was a creation of the designer’s ingenuity. A pure, vivid pigment that stands alone without leaning towards any other color. Rich, captivating, and luminous, it appears to radiate light, casting a glow on its wearer. It embodies elegance and royalty while conveying a sense of ethereal quality, as though it were composed entirely of light.
In essence, it’s a color that epitomizes pure vision. This notion stems from its origin: the hue was inspired by a vivid memory etched in the designer’s mind.
https://mvcmagazine.com/rosso-valentino-il-colore-piu-hot/
The Origin of Valentino Red
The backstory of Valentino red is intriguing. The concept solidified in Valentino’s memory during his student days. While at the Barcelona Opera House, he was captivated by an older woman in a red velvet dress among the audience. Her presence was undeniable, with the dress’s radiant color making her both elegant and majestic. This memory was distilled into a signature color for the designer.
“Red is a hue that has been with me since childhood. It possesses such vitality and allure that I am drawn to it not just in fashion, but also in decor, flora, artifacts, and accents. It’s my talisman. A lady in red is invariably striking: it’s a universally flattering shade. It’s a bold yet essentially neutral color, akin to black, brown, blue, white. It’s neither pale green nor a soft pastel. It injects energy and sophistication. Red symbolizes life, passion, love, and serves as an antidote to melancholy. I believe a woman in red, particularly at night, is magnificent. She stands out in a crowd, epitomizing the ideal heroine,” as recounted in an article about the designer in Esquire.
Valentino red transcends mere color; it represents the embodiment of a modern woman. A woman who refuses to fade into the background with subdued shades but chooses to radiate and amplify her beauty. The fashion monarch has thus clothed his “queen woman.”