Valentino: A lifetime of fashion

June 20, 2000
Web posted at: 2:19 p.m. EDT (1819 GMT)

Valentino received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2000 American Designer Awards in New York

NEW YORK (CNN) -- Elegance, glamour and grace are the trademarks of Italian designer Valentino. They're what brought him to the forefront of the fashion world almost 40 years ago and what have kept him on top.

In recognition of his talents, the Council of Fashion Designers of America bestowed on Valentino its highest honor -- a Lifetime Achievement Award. The designer accepted the prize June 15 at the American Fashion Awards in Manhattan.

Valentino, born Valentino Garavani in 1932, opened his couture house in Rome in 1959, after spending almost 10 years in Paris. By 1962, his name was internationally known.

He has dressed movie stars, like Sophia Loren, and socialites, like Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. Valentino has designed ready-to-wear fashions for men and women, as well as a host of accessory collections, including his favorite bows and embroidered pantyhose.

Spring/Summer 2000 couture collection

Throughout the years, Valentino's philosophy has remained simple: "I want to see lots of happiness and flowers and love, romanticism and lots of feminity."

SPRING/ SUMMER 2000 Collections: Mischka and Badgley Bella Freud Alannah Hill De la Renta Randolph Duke Cynthia Rowley DKNY Vera Wang Calvin Klein Swimwear SS2000 Beene Men's shirts Shoes 2000 Valentino Narciso Rodriguez Versace Sonia Rykiel Balmain Badgley and Mischka ArmaniClements Ribiero Guinness purses Accessories 2000 Jewelry for 2000 Dries Van Noten Gucci Marc Jacobs Michael Kors Ralph Lauren Chanel Missoni Bill Blass

FALL/ WINTER 2000 Collections: Cynthia Rowley Calvin Klein Armani Versace Designer shoes Kenneth Cole Anna Sui De la Renta Valentino McQueen Gucci Chloe Prada Dolce & Gabbana Michael Kors Ralph Lauren Marc Jacobs

For his spring/summer 2000 collection, Valentino paid homage to past collections.

"Almost every day, they came into my office and they said, 'Mr. Valentino, we went through the archives and we saw so many beautiful things. You are totally mad if you don't do things like this.'"

The results were white cashmere coats, pleated sequin skirts and cocktail dresses. Valentino describes the looks as simple, yet sophisticated and elegant.

"I want this couture not too ... fancy," he said, "but with beautiful cut, extremely beautiful material, very well-designed in the body of the lady."

Fall/Winter 2000 ready-to-wear collection

CNN Style Correspondent Elsa Klensch contributed to this report.

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Valentino collection: Classic and urban sophistication
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Minimal look, maximum movement -- Valentino for fall
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Valentino fashions

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