The Tamesis
Throughout his career, the late Valentino Garavani was a favorite among stars, dressing everyone from the influential first lady (Jackie Kennedy wore many of his gowns) to the buzzy Academy Award winners (Julia Roberts won her Academy Award in 2001 in a black-and-white Valentino dress made of velvet, tulle and silk piping).
The designer recognized the power of celebrity early on, and his name quickly became synonymous with luxury and glamor. The stars he works with love him because he makes them look and feel great on the biggest, most talked about stages in the world.
Garavani favors elegant and romantic silhouettes that define the look of Hollywood stars. Often, this means a nod to the past: the mint green one-shoulder dress Jennifer Lopez wore to the 2003 Oscars was somewhat reminiscent of a ’60s gown. But Garavani can also be very modern, as he did in 2006, when he dressed Scarlett Johansson in a figure-hugging red gown that fashion audiences are still talking about today. (After all, Valentino red is his color.)
Although Garavani officially retired in 2008, the glamor he brought to dressing celebrities remains today, not least because his own designs are still regularly seen on the red carpet. for last year’s vanity fair Model Kaia Gerber wore a Spring 1997 chiffon Valentino gown with a tiered cape at the Oscar party. Despite being nearly 30 years old, the buttery yellow color and sheer structure feel very modern. That’s the magic of Valentino Garavani: he designs clothes that can always be in the spotlight.
Here are some of the most memorable Valentino looks of all time.
