1960s
The Roman house
Valentino developed an international couture clientele. Red eveningwear and the celebrated white collection offered different expressions of his controlled, polished style.
The House & Its Designers
Valentino
Rome · 1960
Roman couture, carried into leather through colour and hardware.
Valentino Garavani and Giancarlo Giammetti established a house associated with precise, elegant clothes and a distinctive use of red. Later designers translated its couture identity into an influential accessories business.
20 photographs · Reviewed August 2026
Explore the history ↓
01 / The house
The story behind the name.
2008–2016
A new partnership
Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pierpaolo Piccioli became co-creative directors. Their work connected romantic clothes to a stronger accessories vocabulary, including the Rockstud.
2016–2024
Piccioli’s colour
As sole creative director, Piccioli developed expressive colour and volume. His couture work remained central to how the house presented itself.
2024
Alessandro Michele appointed
Michele became creative director in April 2024, bringing a densely layered approach to the Roman archive.
02 / The designers
The people who shaped the house.
Selected creative chapters; dates distinguish appointments from runway debuts.
Founder
Valentino Garavani
Established the house’s couture identity and formal vocabulary.
2008–2016
Maria Grazia Chiuri & Pierpaolo Piccioli
Developed romantic collections and a highly visible accessories language.
2016–2024 · sole creative director
Pierpaolo Piccioli
Used colour and volume to expand the house’s couture expression.
Appointed 2024
Alessandro Michele
Brings detailed historical references and ornament to the archive.
On the runway
Selected looks and details, matched to the house and season.
Valentino · Spring 2017 Ready To Wear
Valentino · Spring 2020 Ready To Wear
Valentino · Spring 2024 Ready To Wear
Valentino · Spring 2025 Ready To Wear
03 / The bags
A vocabulary in leather and form.
A selection of the house’s designs. Resale photographs illustrate individual examples; size, finish and condition vary.
01
Stud Sign
A structured shoulder bag accented by the house’s stud hardware.
02
Glam Lock
A flap shoulder bag with a chain strap and decorative lock hardware.
03
Candystud
A top-handle bag with quilted leather and oversized pyramid studs.
04
Rockstud Hobo
A soft shoulder-bag silhouette framed by the house’s pyramid studs.
05
Rockstud Spike
Quilted leather is punctuated with small pyramid studs, with a top handle and chain strap.
More designs to know
- Rockstud
- A broad accessories family defined by small pyramid-shaped studs.
- Roman Stud
- Oversized pyramid studs punctuate a quilted leather body.
- VRing
- A rounded V and hanging ring form the central hardware of this bag family.
- Loco
- An elongated shoulder bag with a prominent VLogo clasp.
- VSling
- A structured bag with a V-shaped closure and a distinctive rounded flap.
- One Stud
- A single oversized stud becomes the focal point of a flap shoulder bag.
- Atelier Bag
- An accessories line that treats leather as a surface for sculptural decoration.