Alessandra Facchinetti out at Valentino *Update* new Creative Director at Tod's

[reese06]

People should really stop bringing Frida into the discussion as a means to discredit these accessories designers. Frida is her own person. I really don't think it's too bad that they're experimenting with putting accessories designers at the helm of the couture house.

It could be could be good because they don't have as much knowledge about clothing construction and the constraints of designing clothing so there is a chance to get something more creative and better than a fashion designer who puts constraints on what can be done.

And if she can't work well with others, I'm not sure she can ever really succeed at any label, even if it's her own.

 

[tigerrouge]

I really don't think it's too bad that they're experimenting with putting accessories designers at the helm of the couture house.

I am intrigued to see what will happen, I think anyone who heads up Valentino will have a difficult job on their hands, in keeping true to the expectations people have of the label, while subtly adding their own imprint on things and keeping things fresh enough to excite the press.

 

[cesarcmma]

BEHIND THE SCENES AT VALENTINO
October 4, 2008

The gloves are off at the Italian design house, which this week let go Alessandra Facchinetti as the designer of the main line in favor of the accessories team of Pier Paolo Piccioli and Maria Grazia Chiuri.


Alessandra Facchinetti’s statement to the press:

“It was with deep regret that I learnt from the press that I would no longer be working with Valentino. This news came as a great surprise since the company’s top management has not yet seen fit to inform me of the above.

“I would like to thank Valentino S.p.A. for showing their appreciation of my “creative contribution and my sophisticated talent,” although I deeply regret the fact that this talent and contribution do not seem to have been adequately acknowledged.

“I find it extremely sad that a brand label of the caliber of Valentino, which has made history in the world of fashion, has been the subject of rumors for the past two weeks.

“Despite everything that has happened, I sincerely feel that this experience has empowered me because I know that my work has been deeply appreciated throughout the world. I would like to thank all my co-workers and all those people who have shown me both loyalty and affection.”


The House of Valentino’s statement to the press:

“I think it is a wise decision.

“To pretend to transform and revolutionize the Valentino style is a utopia which is a loss from the start.

“Valentino’s style is very strong and recognizable, which can only be taken forward, with necessary updating, by those who love it, respect it, and, above all, know it perfectly.

“Pier Paolo and Maria Grazia are company-oriented people, and it is right to give them a chance to bring forward a style, which, alongside Valentino, they have developed.”
—Giancarlo Giammetti
“They are two serious, capable professionals that I had alongside me for many years. They always demonstrated an enormous respect and love for my work.

“There is an existing archive with thousands of dresses where they can draw and take inspiration from to create a Valentino product that is relevant today.

“It is a shame that their predecessor didn’t feel this need.

“I wish them all the success.”
—Valentino Garavani

style file blog--style.com

me=SPEECHLESS

 

[reese06]

Valentino's statement to the press is quite tacky.

 

[tigerrouge]

Ouch for Alessandra. Taking a design house in a new direction involves stepping on toes, but if what the firm wants is 'company-oriented people' who will be 'inspired by' the archives, so be it.

 

[dior_couture1245]

The House of Valentino's statements are SO extremely tasteless!!!

Let's break it down.

To pretend to transform and revolutionize the Valentino style is a utopia which is a loss from the start.

So basically, we'll be seeing everything Valentino already has done remade by two accessory designers. Wonderful.

Valentino’s style is very strong and recognizable, which can only be taken forward, with necessary updating, by those who love it, respect it, and, above all, know it perfectly.

As far as I'm concerned, Alessandra's work was INCREDIBLY respectful of the archives. You could tell she cared very much about the essence of Valentino but wanted to take it into a new, more relevant place for the modern woman. Apparently relevance is not really what team Valentino wants...

There is an existing archive with thousands of dresses where they can draw and take inspiration from to create a Valentino product that is relevant today.

It is a shame that their predecessor didn’t feel this need.

WHAT?!?!? So because Alessandra didn't replicate the archives, that means she had no respect for Valentino's work? So insane...




And finally....

Pier Paolo and Maria Grazia are company-oriented people

That basically sums up everything, doesn't it...

 

[Spike413]

Is it just me or does this whole thing seem like the whole YSL/Ford thing all over again?

In the role of the designer's right hand man and snarky mouthpiece - Giancarlo Giammetti

In the role of the legendary designer who feels he has become a relic of a different age - Valentino Garavani

In the role of the outsider with a different perspective who is approved of by no one - Alessandra Faccinetti

Honestly, why bow out of your own house if you're not completely fine with sitting back and letting the new designer do what it is that they were brought in to do? Same with Yves, rest his soul, he left RTW of his own accord, he and Berge sold it and Berge (Yves not so much, he wasn't really directly quoted on anything) did nothing but judge what the new designers/owners were doing.

As far as this whole difficult to work with thing, that's just a lame excuse that circulates all over the fashion arena when a designer gets the boot. Alessandra wasn't so difficult to work with 4, 5, 6 months ago, so what changed?

 

[dior_couture1245]

Also, I was so anxious to hear an official statement from Alessandra...and her statement turned out to be as poised, graceful and elegant as I had expected it to.

 

[helmut.newton]

Wow, Alessandra is definitely the bigger person in this whole situation.

I'm beginning to severely dislike the Valentino house. They are so vicious and ruthless!!

I, for one, thought Facchinetti did a better job at Valentino than Mr. Valentino himself! At least her clothes were tasteful and classy and feminine without the kitsch.

They are KIDDING themselves if they thought his work was 'relevant' and 'modern'.

Valentino is stuck in a time warp, with a nostalgia for the days of glamour and the lunching ladies, and has been since....FOREVER. His work will never be modern. And the only chance they had to make it relevant (with Alessandra at the helm) they wasted!!!

 

[eternitygoddess]

I have lost ALOT of respect for Mr. Valentino.

That statement is sooo insulting.

 

[irulan]

i agree with you. if mr. garavani wasn't ready to let things go, he shouldn't have. i would have been very happy to see him continuing with his work. however i feel like it is his right to puta halt on the new work if he doesn't like it. i just wish that he and his company would have done this in a more respectful way. as much as i despised ms facchinetti's work for valentino, i must give kudos to her for reacting in such a graceful way. i wish valentino would have done the same. bu then again we're talking about valentino...

 

[sethii]

My god is Valentino is such a b*tch I'm glad for Allessandra that she leaves with dignity and didn't feel the need to make personal attacks.

It sounds like the new designers will just be Valentino's puppets. He'll probably be sending them sketches everyday while his nuclear tan is being applied.

 

[Dkammern]

i am never ever to watch a valentino show again. these people have shown absolutely no decency nor respect for alessandra's work.
so valentino will now become a pre-karl chanel... and if that's the case, i couldnt care less about it

 

[Miss Dalloway]

Ouch for Alessandra. Taking a design house in a new direction involves stepping on toes, but if what the firm wants is 'company-oriented people' who will be 'inspired by' the archives, so be it.

Very true, and for a label who claims its core is class, they sure lacked it when dealing with this matter, the ugly side of fashion rears its head out!

I think her statement was very graceful, and she can wallk out with her head high.

 

[sethii]

I was reading some earlier articles posted in this thread from the time Valentino was announcing his resignation - he said he understood that a new designer would mean Valentino would undergoe some changes. Obviously the latest outburst shows he isn't psychologically ready to loose control over the collections.

 

[Crying Diamonds]

Alessandra Facchinetti didn't hear about it until she saw it in the press?!
Can you imagine how absolutely devastating that would be?

I can't believe what the House wants - just for the new designer for Valentino to copy everything that has already been done - and that wasn't hinted or suggested - they said it openly.
What the hell is the point of a fashion house if it's not going to develop every season?
It's just a huge money-making machine now.

I have huge respect for Alessandra Facchinetti and I can only hope she gets the recognition she deserves.

 

[Miss Dalloway]

^^Yes, it seems the main concern is money, money, money and not pissing off the customer by actually showing creative fantastic collections but just rehashing the past.

 

[ponytrot]

“It was with deep regret that I learnt from the press that I would no longer be working with Valentino. This news came as a great surprise since the company’s top management has not yet seen fit to inform me of the above.

this is SO shocking and rude! They've obviously treated Alessandra like it was beneath their notice to separate in a respectful and sensitive matter.

geez. poor alessandra. I hope she gets her own line or finds a house that allows her to further her vision.

 

[FashionPower]

I'm speechless right now
Valentino house is DEAD for me right now!!
They did not have any respect for the poor Alessandra...she wasted a lot of energy and time for what?...just for nothing(omg how did they dare to say that she not follow Valentino's archieves? she was just remodernizing the concept of the maison and adding a very soft touch in all her creations)...they treated her in a very bad way
Thanks god she was fired...she's free from Valentino and Giarcarlo's tiranny...yeah I think that Valentino/Giancarlo are still ruling the house and controlling everybody like puppets

 

[Salvatore]

Oh Valentino is so off the radar now. This house represents something false. Now that the house has been turned inside-out, you can see the ugly core of what the house of Valentino is - average "pretty" clothes with ugly and rude and tactless people designing and marketing them. This is such a shame to the house that there was not enough decency to even inform who they were letting go know before the press knew! She had to find out from third-party? Valentino is back to being stale, too-old-for-nonna, and not relevant clothes. They lost their chance. I hope the Valentino label never regains its feet again and I hope Valentino himself cannot tan anymore!

Alessandra is the class that I knew she would be and she will get the good and respect and all that she wants and deserves!