The VFG believes that informed selling and buying communities are good for the vintage-fashion industry as a whole, and all visitors to the website have access to the VFG resources. These are continually updated and constantly evolving, thanks to a dedicated volunteer staff.
Our blog features our picks of the freshest vintage items, member news and articles. We have also created a growing series of articles on some classic designers.
The Vintage Fashion Guild™ (VFG) is an international organization dedicated to the promotion and preservation of vintage fashion.
The Vintage Fashion Guild™ (VFG) is an international community of people with expertise in vintage fashion. VFG members enjoy a wealth of resources, avenues for promoting their shops and specialties, and camaraderie with others who share a common interest and passion.
Valentino Garavani (b. 1932) studied fashion design in the late 1940s at the Accademia dell’Arte in Milan and at the Chambre Syndicale de la Couture in Paris. He became an assistant at Jean Desses in 1950, moved to Guy Laroche in 1956, and returned to Italy in 1959 to work for Galitzine.
In 1960 Valentino established his own salon on the fashionable Via Condotti in Rome. Two years later he did his first ready-to-wear collection. He also showed his collection at the Pitti Palace in Florence in the same year, a move which led to greater exposure and set him as a major Italian designer.
Valentino’s work is grand and dramatic. This makes his designs perfect as wedding dresses, including those of Jackie Kennedy to Aristotle Onassis (from the 1968 White collection) and Elizabeth Taylor in 1991 (her eighth marriage!).
Over the years Valentino has added various ready-to-wear lines, including ones for men, children, the home, and young adults, called Oliver. This line was named for one of his pug dogs. His labels and designs often have his trademark V incorporated in them and there is a special shade of red that is associated with Valentino.
Valentino retired in 2008, but his line continued for two seasons under the direction of Alessandra Facchinetti. As of 2024, Alessandro Michele was the new Creative Director.
Written by fuzzylizzie
See vintage Valentino from VFG members on Etsy (paid link)
Courtesy of listitcafe
Courtesy of Ryerson University Fashion Research Collection
Courtesy of kickshawproductions
Courtesy of lkranie
Courtesy of Whitewolf
Courtesy of Claire Shaeffer
Courtesy of midnightglamour
Courtesy of katzoid
Courtesy of themerchantsofvintage
Courtesy of fuzzylizzie.com
Courtesy of glad rags and curios
Courtesy of chezmov
Courtesy of catwalkcreative
Courtesy of vintage-voyager.com
Courtesy of claireshaeffer
Courtesy of midge
from a 1960s jacket
from a 1965 evening gown
from an early to mid 1970s coat
from an early to mid 1970s men's puffer vest
from a 1970s skirt
from a 1970s evening gown
from a 1970s dress
from a 1970s/1980s nightgown
from an early 1980s blouse
from an early to mid 1980s mens shirt
from a 1980s men's jumpsuit
from a 1980s nightgown
from a 1980s jacket
from a 1980s cashmere sweater
from a 1980s tie
from a 1980s coat
from a 1980s dress catwalkcreative
from a 1980s skirt
from a late 1980s/early 1990s hunting jacket
from a late 1980s/early 1990s Valentino Jeans shirt
from an early 1990s dress
from an early 1990s jumpsuit
from a 1990s satin skirt
from a 1990s dress
from a late 1990s plaid wool jacket
from a silk 2000s tie