Valentinto

Picture of Valentino, Image Cite

Valentino Garavani was born on May 11, 1932 in Voghera, Italy. He enjoyed sewing and fashion from a young age and by age 16 he wanted to just sketch dresses and become a fashion designer. He studied at the Academia Dell’Arte in Milan and at 17 he went to Chambre Syndicale de Haute Couture. When he was 19, he worked as a sketcher for five years with the couture house of Jean Desses. He eventually returned to Italy to open his own fashion house in Rome.

Jackie Kennedy's Wedding Dress by Valentino, Image cite

He was given the last slot at the last possible hour at the shows at the Palazzo Pitti in Florence but luckily, the Americans stayed behind and noticed his designs. One of the American wife of an Italian aristocrat, Consuelo Crespi, was a fan of his design and from her, his dress for her sister attracted attention from Jackie Kennedy. Valentino’s career came into the spotlight when she wore his dress for her wedding with Aristotle Onassis.

Valentino and Giammetti, Image cite

He met Giancarlo Giammetti on one fated summer day in 1960 and began a successful partnership. They marked a rise of Italian fashion that would challenge the couturiers of Paris. Giammetti would deal with the business part of the fashion so Valentino could conventrate on designing.

Valentino's Famous Red Collection, Image Cite

Valentino’s successful career spans over four decades before he officially retired after his last haute couture show on January 23,2008. His line extends from haute couture to ready-to-wear, accessories, and perfumes and is currently under the creative directors Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pierpaolo Piccioli.

Works Cited

Cartner-Morley, Jess. "Goodbye Valentino: Fashion's Last Emperor Bows out." ProQuest Central. ProQuest, 24 Jan. 2008. Web. 11 Mar. 2013.

Donn, Allegra. "Valentino's Day: [Final Edition]." ProQuest Central. ProQuest, 4 Mar. 2006. Web. 11 Mar. 2013.

Gall, Nancy. "Valentino Sketched Way to a $300 Million Empire: [SA2 Edition]." 20th Century Drama. ProQuest, 5 Mar. 1988. Web. 11 Mar. 2013.

Stotler, Nina. "Valentino." BlogStylesight. Stylesight Inc, 5 Mar. 2013. Web. 12 Mar. 2013.

Salvatore Ferragamo

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Salvatore Ferragamo rise to international success is a truly inspirational story with 80 years of heritage behind it. He was born on 1898 in Bonito, Italy and by the age of nine he found his calling for shoemaking after successfully creating a pair of shoes for his sister to wear on her confirmation.

He apprenticed for a shoemaker in Naples and opened his first shop in his parent’s home in 1912 at age 13. A year later he decided to go to America to work for his brothers at Boston and then he eventually moved to Santa Barbara, California and finally Hollywood where he opened his shoe-repair shop in 1923 and became known as the “Shoemaker to the Stars.” He continued to strive to make shoes that were not only pleasing the aesthetics but fit comfortably by studying the human anatomy at the University of Southern California. He was becoming popular among legendary Hollywood celebrities such as Audrey Hepburn and Marilyn Monroe.

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Finally, he decided that American labor was not making shoes of quality that satisfied his taste, he returned to Florence, Italy for the skilled craftsmanship shoemakers. However, the brand faced financial difficulties and filed for bankruptcy in 1933 but he still expanded his operations during 1950 to a workforce of 700 expert artisans cranking out 350 pairs of hand-made shoes a day.

He died in 1960 at age 60 but he did accomplish his dream of producing the most beautiful shoes in the world. His family continues to carry on that great legacy and expanded it from shoes to luxury bags, eyewear, silk accessories, watches, perfumes, and ready to wear clothing line lead by Massimiliano Giornetti.

 

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Works Cited

"The Founder and His Legend." Museo Salvatore Ferragamo. Salvatore Ferragamo Spa, n.d. Web. 04 Mar. 2013.

Gonsalves, Rebecca. "Salvatore Ferragamo Built an EMPIRE on Shoes Worn by Stars from AUDREY HEPBURN to MARILYN MONROE. Decades Later, the A-Listers are Still Fans - but Appealing to ANGELINA JOLIE and LADY GAGA Isn't enough for the Brand's New Creative Director.." The Independent on Sunday: 32. Mar 18 2012. ProQuest Central. Web. 4 Mar. 2013 .

Manganaro, Joanna. "Salvatore Ferragamo." BlogStylesight. StyleSight Inc, 24 Feb. 2013. Web. 04 Mar. 2013.

"Salvatore Ferragamo." The FMD. Fashion Model Directory, n.d. Web. 04 Mar. 2013.