BOOKS

Valentino. A Grand Italian Epic – The Essence of a Fashion Empire

June 2025

Courtesy of TASCHEN

Valentino. A Grand Italian Epic – The Essence of a Fashion Empire in a New Book

By Claudia Mauer, Editor-in-Chief, Alethea Magazine

Valentino Garavani, the Italian couturier born in Voghera in 1932, is an icon whose name stands for elegance, timeless beauty, and a financially powerful fashion empire. The Cologne-based TASCHEN publisher has released a new book, Valentino. A Grand Italian Epic, curated by Luke Leitch and Mattia Bonetti. The book is a 576-page masterpiece that tells the story of the House of Valentino from its founding in 1960 to the era under Creative Director Pierpaolo Piccioli – who, as we know, was recently replaced by Gucci’s Alessandro Michele. It shows archive images, personal sketches, and offers the book a deep insight into the Roman fashion house.

Valentino’s rise began in Paris, where he trained with Jean Dessès and Guy Laroche before opening his own atelier in Rome. Soon after, in the 1960s, he gained international attention through clients such as Jacqueline Kennedy and Elizabeth Taylor. The book showcases iconic creations for these icons, such as a coral pink dress worn by Kennedy in 1968 at her wedding to Aristotle Onassis, and the wedding dress of Queen Maxima. It also highlights the evolution of the brand under Piccioli, whose collections blend the Valentino aesthetic with a modern, art-inspired approach.

The book presents Valentino not only as a fashion house but as a cultural phenomenon. The most important eras are shown, from the influence of Italian cinema to Renaissance aesthetics and the Roman Dolce Vita era. Contributions from fashion historians and insiders, complemented by Valentino’s own thoughts, lend the volume intellectual depth. Particularly fascinating are the insights into the creative process, such as the development of a couture dress through sketches or the creation of the iconic red hue that became the brand’s most significant symbol.

Available for € 100, Valentino. A Grand Italian Epic is like a meditation on the power of craftsmanship and the timeless beauty. Valentino is the intersection of art, history, and style.

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Valentino. A Grand Italian Epic

Hardcover, 25 x 33.4 cm, 4.56 kg, 576 pages

ISBN 978-3-7544-0069-2

Edition: English

Courtesy of TASCHEN

Courtesy of TASCHEN

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