Valentino Clemente Ludovico Garavani was born in Voghera, Italy in 1932. In 1949 he left his hometown to study fashion sketching at the Santa Maria Institute in Milan. He shortly thereafter moved to Paris to study at the esteemed École des Beaux-Arts and Chambre Syndicale de la Couture Parisienne.

During this time he apprenticed under several successful names in the fashion world, including Jacques Fath, Balenciaga, Jean Dessès, and eventually Guy Laroche. In 1959, Valentino decided to return to Rome to establish his own brand. It was here that Elizabeth Taylor noticed Valentino's work and ordered a white dress that she wore to the premiere of Spartacus. This moment would seal Valentino's fate as an acclaimed fashion designer.

Valentino has designed striking pieces for clientele such as Jacqueline Kennedy, Joan Collins, Audrey Hepburn, and Princess Margaret. Valentino went on to receive a wide array of awards for his work in the fashion industry before retiring as the Creative Director of his brand in 2007.