Valentino my Fashion Valentine

There are a few designers in the game that have been around since it seems the dawn of Haute Couture. A few celebrated single names that everyone, regardless of their level of fashion knowledge seems to know. Ask anyone to rifle off those names and I can almost guarantee you Valentino is in the the top five.

Valentino Garavani

Valentino Garavani, the garishly tan man with an almost feline smile has been a consistently powerful player in the high-end fashion game. For over 45 years in fact his luxurious brand has been draped on the most elite of women, and coveted by us normies everywhere. He designed entire wardrobes for Jacqueline Kennedy Onasis, along with her wedding dress when she married Aristotle. He designed for Princess Diana, and the Princess of Bulgaria was a personal Muse for Valentino.

Jackie Kennedy Onassis wearing Valentino
at the Vogue Awards in 1976

Jackie Kennedy Onassis wedding dress when she married
Aristotle Onassis

He may be most synonymous with elegant, show stopping evening gowns however.  His gowns are worn on red carpets at nearly every awards show buy the latest and greatest in Hollywood style icons. This red carpet presence  is actually quite fitting. Valentino's beginnings were filled with silver screen dreams. At a young age he became fascinated with the likes of Veronica Lake, Elizabeth Taylor, and Rita Hayworth. He knew he wanted to create ladies fashion, for beautiful women. He wanted to make already beautiful women look even more beautiful, and since 1962 after his first significant fashion show at Pitti Palace in Florence, Italy, he's been doing just that. And ever since then, he's been sticking to his guns, being one of the few remaining courtiers who still does everything by hand. In fact, with over 100 seamstresses on staff only 1 sewing machine exists in the studio.

Anne Hathaway in Valentino

Julia Roberts in Valentino

Diane Kruger in Valentino

Along with help from his head seamstress Antoinette de Angelis and his longtime love, business partner, and essentially other half, Giancarlo Giammetti Valentino has developed a brand that spans across women's ready-to-wear,couture, men's wear, accessories, and fragrances along with two diffusion lines: Valentino Roma and Valentino R.E.D.

Valentino and Giancarlo Giammetti the early years

Valentino and Giancarlo present day

He's also developed a signature style defined by classic femininity, elegant silhouettes, and sophisticated glamour.... the epitome of "Lady Chic." Along with those womanly forms, comes a few Valentino signatures, such as bows, interestingly enough the pyramid stud... and of course, his signature intensely saturated "Valentino Red". (Although his ground breaking "White" collection of 1968 would go down in history as well).

Valentino Signature Bow Clutch

Valentino Studded T-Strap Pump

Examples of Valentino Red

Examples of Valentino Red

I could go on and on, but I have to say, you should watch Valentino: The Last Emperor by Acolyte Films. There's no way to learn more about a designer than by seeing him in his natural element. And as far as fashion documentaries go, its highly entertaining, I'd definitely recommend it.

After watching this movie you'll see the group has gone through it's fair share of drama. And you'll also notice I talk about Valentino like he's still designing, which he is not... but his legacy lives on.  In 2007 he retired, and after a brief stint with Alessandra Faccinetti (former women's wear designer for Gucci) as creative director, Pier Paolo Piccioli and Maria Grazia Chiuri took the reigns in Fall of 2009.

Pier Paolo Piccioli and Maria Grazia Chiuri
current Creative Directors of Valentino

Even in his absence however, the name continues to go strong. And while Valentino himself once took inspiration from the silver screen, it is now clear he himself serves as a point of inspiration for the brand. It was incredibly apparent in the Spring and Fall runways that Pier and Maria looked back to the originator of the brand to return the Valentino name to its oh so elegant roots once more. 

Fall's Fashion Forecast

As if dressing mannequins at work in sweaters and tights wasn't a big enough hint, the shorter days and cooler evenings have begun to remind me that fall is just around the corner. While I thrive in the heat of the summer, and despise the cold (in spite of the fact that I have lived my entire life surviving one brutal winter after the other in the Northeast) I happen to LOVE the fall fashion season. It's actually my favorite.  So, with the trends in full preview this week, I thought I'd do a little highlight on some of my favorite fall trends... and one I'm still deciding on.

"Lady Chic" seems to be the phrase that can sum up your fall fashion season. Pieces are polished, delicate, and sophisticated. The best ones seem to have a decidedly classic feel. Everyone from Aquilino.Rimondi to Zac Posen introduced a more feminine look for fall.

Aquilino.Rimondi Fall 2011 from Style.com

Zac Posen Fall 2011 from Style.com

I have to say that both Elie Saab and Donna Karen's take on the classically feminine woman for the fall is amazing... nostalgically vintage but with modern touches that add interest, movement, and even a bit of austerity to otherwise dainty silhouettes.

Elie Saab Fall 2011 from Style.com

Donna Karan Fall 2011 from Style.com

Shades of  wine seem take this look to that next level of luxury. Bordeaux, Cabernet, Shiraz any which way you call it these intoxicating hues are rich and complementary on nearly every skin tone. Paired back to pops of red, or even jade you end up with a luxe look that's fresh and flattering.

Oscar de la Renta Fall 2011 from Style.com

Nina Ricci Fall 2011 from Style.com

Gucci Fall 2011 from Style.com

You'll also notice, the traditional pointed toe flat pump is now popping up all over the runways. This is the one I haven't quite decided on yet, but they are definitely making a come back.

Now, I knew I had the pumps in my closet from circa 2002... I figured I'd dust them off for the day and give them another shot. But what to wear for that modern lady like look? Then it donned on me.. no one, (and I mean no one) knows "Lady Chic" better than Valentino. As the oldest "Emperor" in the biz, he has spent 45 years perfecting, defining, and redefining classic femininity at its finest. In fact, he has such a long and rich history, I'll be saving that for a post entirely on its own this week. It just so happens I have a pair of  Valentino silk chiffon tapered pant with tortoise shell button  detailing and grosgrain ribbon waistline from many moons ago. Nothing is quite as feminine as silk chiffon, so combining that with Valentino's sense of proportion and draping and they are the perfect pant for keeping on par with the seasons biggest trend.... and luckily for me they also happen to be a lovely shade of Zinfandel (no no no, not like the horribly pink white Zinfandel from a box, but a true inky purple Zinfandel). Topped off with a silky black top also by Valentino, I was feeling perfectly on trend (albeit a little a head of schedule).

The perfect thing about this "Lady Chic" outfit, is that its perfect just on its own, the accessories and layering can be kept to a minimum because the subtle details found on the pockets and pleats of the pants, or the twisted rope detailing in the top speak for themselves. However, it's easy to throw on a few simply pieces and take the look from day to night.

Adding a simple jacket can complete the "Lady Chic" perfect for work. Your professional, polished, and put together (the three p's your looking for in workplace attire) This tweed and lace jacket by Rebbecca Taylor has just the right amount of delicate touches and a slightly throw back silhouette to make the perfect accompaniment.

If this girly look is a little too cloying for your taste, I get it. I like a little dichotomy in life, I like my outfits to have a little contrast in some way or another. A great way to add a bit of an edge to something utterly effeminate look is to add a few masculine touches. A little metal and leather can go along way. Pewter hued accessories and a suede fringed vest provide just the right amount of contrast.

I have to say, I'm pretty excited for what the fall fashion season has to offer. The big trends are universal, every girl can pull them off in one way or the other, and what's nice, is as you can see by me dragging out shoes from 2002, they are trendy pieces that can extend way beyond the life of a trend.