Valentino Garavani

Timeline

1959 – Having completed his fashion studies and an apprenticeship with Jean Desses and Guy Laroche, Valentino starts up his first studio in Rome.
1960 – Begins his collaboration with Giancarlo Giammetti, who manages the commercial development of the House of Valentino
1962 – His first collection at the international fashion Gotha in the Palazzo Pitti, Florence, is a triumphant success.
1964 – Jacqueline Kennedy becomes a client.
1965 – Valentino is recognised as the top name in Italian haute couture.
1967 – He is awarded the Neiman Marcus Prize in Dallas.
1968 – Valentino's reputation is secured with the enormous success of his "Collezione Bianca," the first clothing and accessories collection to feature the magic "V" label. Designs the wedding dress worn by Jacqueline Kennedy for her marriage to Aristotle Onassis.
1969 – Begins his Boutique line of clothes and opens the first Valentino shop in Milan.
1970 – Launches his first ready-to-wear collections and opens Valentino boutiques in Rome and New York.
1971 – Opening of the first menswear shop in Via Condotti.
1971 – Valentino creates a new uniform collection for Trans World Airlines (TWA)stewardesses.
1975 – First fashion show of his ready-to-wear collection in Paris.
1976 – Opens a boutique in Tokyo.
1978 – Launch of the Valentino perfume at a gala evening in Paris, at the Theater des Champs Elysees.
1982 – Publication of the book Valentino, edited by Franco Maria Ricci; September 20, Valentino presents his Autumn/Winter collection at the Metropolitan Museum in New York.
1983 – Valentino lends his talents to the Lincoln Continental, an automobile manufactured by the Ford Motor Company. His contribution includes unique color combinations for the 1983, 1984, and 1985 model years of the car.
1984 – Valentino celebrates his 25th year in the business and receives an official award from the Minister for Industry.
1985 – He is awarded the Grand'Ufficiale dell'Ordine al Merito by the President of Italy.
1986 – Receives the highest decoration possible in Italy, the Cavaliere di Gran Croce, from the President.
1989 – First show of the haute couture collection in Paris.
1990 – In February, Valentino and Giancarlo Giammetti found L.I.F.E. (acronym in Italian for "Fighting, Informing, Building, Teaching"), an association working for the fight against Aids. The Accademia Valentino is also officially opened to the public with an exhibition of painters of the Roman School Exhibition of "The Art of Cartier" at the Accademia Valentino Publication of the book "Valentino: Trent'Anni de Magia", by Leonardo Arte.
1991 – To celebrate his 30th year in the fashion business, an exhibition entitled "Valentino: Thirty Years of Magic" is organized in Valentino's honor by the Mayor of Rome at the Capitole Museum, while the Accademia Valentino presents a retrospective of his designs. Creation of the perfume Vendetta for men and women.
1992 – Exhibition at the Accademia Valentino entitled "La seduzione da Boucher a Warhol." The "Valentino: Thirty Years of Magic"' exhibition is invited to go to New York to coincide with the fifth centenary celebrations of the discovery of America. Valentino is invited by the Chinese government to stage a show in Beijing.
1994 – In January, Valentino presents his first-ever costume designs at the Eisenhower Theatre in the Kennedy Center, Washington, D.C., for an opera entitled The Dream of Valentino, based on the life of the movie star Rudolf Valentino.
1995 – Valentino's return to Italy is celebrated on January 14 in Florence with a fashion show at the Stazione Leopolda, more than 30 years after his first show at the Palazzo Pitti. The Mayor of Florence awards him the "Premio speciale dell'arte nella moda."
1996 – Valentino is named Cavaliere del Lavoro.
2004 – Launch of V perfume which will be followed by V for men.
2006 – Opens a boutique on Newbury Street in Boston.
2006 – President Chirac awards Valentino of the Légion d'honneur.
2007 – Opens a boutique in Bangkok.
2007 – Opens a boutique in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
2007 – September 4: Valentino announces his retirement.
2007 – October 4: Valentino holds his last fashion show.
2007 – Opens a boutique in Dallas at NorthPark Center.
2008 – January 23: Valentino holds his last haute-couture show, and retires fully from the world stage.
2008 – Opens a boutique in Atlanta at Phipps Plaza.
2010 – January 1: Dancers of the Vienna State Opera Ballet wear his specially designed costumes for the New Years Concert played by the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra and broadcast worldwide.
2010 – December 15: Valentino's early works are exhibited at Valentino, Retrospective: Past, Present and Future
2011 - December 5: The Valentino Garavani Virtual Museum was launched and became available at www.valentino-garavani-archives.org. <
2012 - Valentino: Master of Couture, a major new exhibition celebrating the life and work of Valentino will open at Somerset House in London. The exhibition will run 29 November 2012 - 3 March 2013.