Taschen's New 'Valentino' Book Traces a Magnificent History
The fresh title tells the story of the famed Italian designer and fashion house through an assortment of beautiful archive photos, campaigns, sketches, and more.
When it comes to the world of fashion, particularly haute couture, few names so frequently come to mind as Valentino. For decades, the Italian label has shone and continued building upon its sartorial legacy, from Valentino Garavani to current leadership under Alessandro Michele. A new book, however, offers a unique peek into its early days, under the founder himself.
A Grand Italian Epic follows the retired designer's journey through a mix of oral history and archival photographs that span campaign imagery, personal images, and sketches. In other words, it offers a historic eye into the designer and 1959-founded brand's history-making work, worn by women like Elizabeth Taylor, Audrey Hepburn, and Jackie Kennedy. Standout pages in the book feature scenes from inside the designer's Italian atelier and emblematic campaigns from previous decades. 
Seasoned fashion editors Matt Trynauer and Suzy Menkes authored the 576-page title, edited by Armando Chitolina. Together, their work promises to be a masterpiece, apt for a history lesson or coffee book.
Valentino. A Grand Italian Epic celebrates haute couture's grand maestro, whose simple wish was to make women feel beautiful. The book is available to pre-order for $125 on Taschen's website.
