Valentino. A Grand Italian Epic

Think Valentino: think luxury. Think elegance. This book traces the illustrious career of fashion’s most exciting couturier through copious images from his archives, including drawings, magazine editorial shoots, advertisements, portraits, and documentary photographs to provide an in-depth look at the man, his lifestyle, and his genius.

Genius, Glamour, And Magnificent Gowns

Valentino Garavani: the greatest name in Italian couture

For almost half a century Valentino dominated Italian haute couture, dressing the world’s wealthiest and most glamorous women. Only a few years after opening his fashion house in Rome in 1959, Valentino could already count Elizabeth Taylor, Jackie Kennedy, and Audrey Hepburn among his devotees. Despite his retirement in 2007 little has changed; his brand continues to thrive and prosper, and is worn by celebrities like Gwyneth Paltrow and Jennifer Lopez. Valentino has always designed magnificent gowns, never wavering from his signature style despite fads like grunge, deconstruction, and minimalism.

This book traces Valentino’s illustrious career through copious images from his archives, including drawings, magazine editorial shoots, advertisements, portraits, and documentary photographs. Presented chronologically, the visual material is accompanied by a vast array of newspaper and magazine articles about Valentino throughout the years. Combined, they provide an in-depth look at the man, his lifestyle, and his genius.

The authors

Matt Tyrnauer is Special Correspondent for Vanity Fair magazine, where he has written and edited numerous features over the years. Among them are stories on Martha Stewart, Siegfried & Roy, Frank Gehry, Merv Griffin, and Valentino. He lives in Los Angeles.

Unquestionably a leader in the global fashion press, Suzy Menkes was International Vogue Editor at Condé Nast International and she is a leading Instagram influencer. Among the world’s most influential fashion critics, she is an officer of the Order of the British Empire as well as a chevalier of the Légion d’Honneur. She lives and works in London and Paris. 

The editor

Armando Chitolina worked as a design consultant and art director at Vogue Italia and L'Uomo Vogue, and image consultant for fashion houses Moschino and Mila Schön. His TASCHEN titles include William Claxton's Jazz Seen, Gian Paolo Barbieri's Equator, The Book of Tiki, Naked as a Jaybird and Valentino: A Grand Italian Epic.

Valentino. A Grand Italian EpicHardcover, 25 x 33.4 cm, 4.65 kg, 576 pages