Earlier this month, Valentino Garavani announced that after just one more prêt-a-porter and haute couture season, he would step down as a head designer from the Valentino fashion group—after being in the business for over 45 years.
He said: “My future will be filled with new interests and challenges. Some may be linked to fashion, as I have a strong desire to create and support institutions to promote the study of fashion design, and to preserve the history of the art of fashion. It will be a marvelous continuation of this amazing adventure that I had the privilege to have. Even as a young boy, my passion was to design, and I have been very lucky to be able to do what I have loved all my life.” The fashion house, owned by a private-equity firm, now named Alessandra Facchinetti, a former Gucci designer, as Valentino’s new creative director.
For those of you who are wondering who Valentino is: Valentino has been one of the most distinguished names in fashion—(and in the world for this matter!), known for his elegant, classic, yet sexy evening wears and designs. I’ve been his huge fan for as long as I can remember. Reading about his retirement brought my memory back to earlier this year, when I was in his New York office for Valentino Market Week. It’s the week where BIG buyers: like Bergdorf Goodman, Saks Fifth Avenue, Barney’s, etc came to see the collection to decide which pieces (& how many) to buy.
Valentino’s office in New York is HUGE! It’s located in the building directly across Bryant Park (the park where New York Fashion Week is hosted). It’s clean and bright and elegantly understated. And what I find even more amusing, it’s located on the floor of my birth-date(Well that’s irrelevant here, but I like it nevertheless :D). You know what’s even more fascinating? On the reception desk every freaking early morning, you’ll find a stack of fresh copies of the latest WWD (Women’s Wear Daily). Just when we thought we came too early (that we need extra caffeine boost), the WWDs still managed to arrive earlier. Amazing, isn’t it?
During the Valentino Market Week, there’ll be a couple of tables, each allocated for each buyer (“the Bergdorf table”), where there’ll be one or two Valentino people to sit with them to answer their question or to explain the necessary stuff. Good snack is served too. Bottomline, they have to make sure that these high-end department buyers receive proper customer service. Around the room, there’ll be lots of racks displayed with lots of clothes, put against the wall of the wall, all categorized in certain themes. When everyone’s ready, the models will then do their work. They’ll be wearing the main collection, walking around the tables, posing for a couple of seconds in front of each table. After the show, each buyer may request to see some of the clothes they pick (either the ones from the racks or from the main collection) to be worn again by the models. They even get to choose the combination of pieces they’d like to see in person. This time, the buyer can ask any model to stand still in front of the table while they analyse the clothes, or make a turn when necessary. This will continue to the point that the buyers make up their minds on their purchase.
The models look STUNNING, as always. They’re very slim and tall and just dropdead gorgeous! When they stand in line before they came out, they seem to be a different species on their own—the beautiful ones who shined even more with Valentino’s couture, flawless make-up & hairdo, & 12 cm heels. I feel like a hobbit around them, a plump one! 
I find it exciting to see how BIG business seems to be up and running by itself. It’s like you’re witnessing a giant kingdom where the king only oversees, and all the other parts of the kingdom know their roles and responsibilities. I feel really small and meaningless when I stand before an empire these great people have built. But what we should keep in mind is that…even Valentino did have a starting point. So no matter where we stand today, just never give up! Keep giving your best shot in every single thing you do! J This year Valentino (the person) is 75 years old, and the business shows only signs of more & greater success in the future. He’s been such an inspiration, and I hope he’ll continue to be one J How I hope I’ll grow old to be someone like Valentino. What about you? J