Valentino Announces His Retirement

Posted Sep 5th 2007 at 4:05PM by Anne Metz (Subscribe to Anne Metz's posts)

Filed under: CELEBRITY STYLE, Fashion, Celebrity, News, Best of the Season

Fashion designer Valentino Garavani announced Tuesday that he will retire in January from the company he started 45 years ago. The news came as a shock to the fashion mavens in Rome. Some have speculated that his decision to leave could have been motivated by the tumultuous takeover of Valentino Fashion Group by the private equity firm Permira. Rumor has it that Permira was not thrilled with the idea of funding Valentino's luxurious lifestyle.

Valentino will still present his two remaining collections, the first in October at the Ready-to-Wear shows and the second at the January 2008 Haute Couture shows in Paris. Garavani will be replaced by Alessandra Facchinetti, a former ready-to-wear designer for Gucci.

When asked about his departure, Valentino remarked, "I would like to leave the party when it is still full." And full it is.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)

jesse 9-08-2007 @ 8:07AM

Just one question, why are all of the so called "top" fashion designers so "fruity". Can't a "real" man design clothes? Some of the so called designer clothes are not worthy of cleaning the house in! Ever since Target brought in Isaac whats his name, even my kids will not wear the clothes (eventhough I only by Target clothes for them to play outside in). The fit sucks, the colors are awfully drab, and the style is horrid!

libbyG 9-08-2007 @ 8:28AM

leave while you are still on top. Bravo.

susan 9-08-2007 @ 8:48AM

Jesse, Who cares what kind of person designs the clothes, it's their creative style you should notice. It's ignorant people like you who keep the world from changing and accepting people as they are. Unfortunately, it sounds like you're the type to pass it right down to your kids and on and on.

Vee 9-08-2007 @ 9:23AM

jesse...if you're concerned about "real men" making designer clothes, why don't you make some and stop whining. Straight men should start designing clothes and stop thinking that if they do it would be feminine. Plus, the last statement you said, "The fit sucks, the colors are awfully drab, and the style is horrid", sounds very queenie.
For a "real man" your phasing sounds suspect...lol. Are you sure not a rival gay designer upset because other designers are doing well?

Julie 9-08-2007 @ 8:54AM

Fruity....holy shit, man. Why are all designers gay? Because heterosexual men don't want to design dresses, dumb ass. Go back to K mart. Thw word horrid is pretty fruity, by the way.

Doug 9-08-2007 @ 9:00AM

Jesse,
B-U-Y, not -by your clothes. Have a nice dey! lol

jk 9-08-2007 @ 9:03AM

why do you assume jesse is a male?

Julie 9-08-2007 @ 9:09AM

"fruity"...you've got to be kidding. Go back to K Mart, Jesse. "Horrid" now that's fruity...

Jim in Pittsburgh 9-08-2007 @ 9:21AM

Jesse you are right in your opinions. And Ms Susan needs to wake up... and I gather that she is the MZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ type! Why cant men be men and women be women, and stop trying to be elements they arent, and NEVER will be. You get tired of seeing these "twinks" and "butches" running around saying that is why thye are sooo creative. You dont need to be a flamer to be talented and creative. The problem is the silent majority lets jerks and assholes like MZ Susan take center stage. Let's start to wake up just like these types do........

Gerry 9-08-2007 @ 9:22AM

Me think Jesse doth protest too much!!!

Gerry 9-08-2007 @ 9:30AM

Me thinks Jesse doth protests too much!!!!

Barbara 9-08-2007 @ 9:32AM

Calvin Clein is far from being gay! And what if he is? Valentino has had a long successful career. His designs are timeless. The execution is second to none. Good job, I say! Bravo!

Michele 9-08-2007 @ 9:38AM

Jesse, then you should continue to only buy from Walmart and leave the best for those of us that have taste and class.

shari 9-08-2007 @ 9:43AM

Jesse, Ralph Lauren, My favorite designer, and a family man. Shar

Sheila 9-08-2007 @ 9:50AM

So, Jesse and Jim in Pittsburgh, you have a problem with the sexuality of people?

Let's say your child is in a car accident, and the ER doc treating your child is "fruity", but is the best in his field. Would you ask for a "manly" doctor?

Good for Valentino, by the way. He went out on top on his own terms.

Sheila 9-08-2007 @ 9:49AM

Jesse & Jim in Pittsburgh, let's say your child was in a car accident and the ER doc brought in was a bit "fruity" but was the best in his field. Would you ask for a "manly" doctor?

Good for Valentino, he went out on top and on his own terms!

william martinez 9-08-2007 @ 9:55AM

another time-worn old queen bites the fashion-world dust; get ta steppin', bitch.

Belinda 9-08-2007 @ 9:55AM

Valentino was a great designer and he has been around a long time. I'm sure retiring wasn't easy for him after all of these years. He mentioned once that planning for a showing was nerve racking and exhilirating at the same time. His name will always be synonymous with high fashion though he will no longer be in the business.

To Jesse #1, I don't think anyone who likes his clothing line really cares whether he is, as you say, fruity. I think most are intrigued with his talent as a designer. The best of luck to him as he retreats to private life.
http://www.freewebs.com/galleryshops/designerhandbags.htm

gina 9-08-2007 @ 10:19AM

The man has talent, PERIOD! I don't care if your gay or straight its all about results. To state that designers produce horried, worthless products not worthy of cleaning the house in is absolutly absurd. I used to think that way too until I got style and learned to look beyond the whole picture and appreciate the feel of the fabric, not to mention the absense of fray stings and stitching coming unraveled. maybe you should buy whole sale and go straight to the sweat shops and hand pick your cheap cotten falling apart but fit good clothing and not worry about people who choose to wear the nicer things in life. Simple, Ford Focus or a Lexus. Ofcourse if you've never drove a Lexus you don't know what your missing.