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

[leyla m.]

realistically noone can take his place.
i disagree that it is like marc at vuitton or john at dior, etc. neither of these actually took directly over from the designer who created the ("his") brand.
valentino s collection are all about him because it has only ever been him! it is difficult to imagine someone else take over and do as he did. i am sure he will lose all his super classy customerbase he had built up throughout his career and who are up until now hardcore, dedicated V fans.
personally i am all into my new fashionforward avant garde designers but ask me who makes the best evening dresses...: VALENTINO is in my top 3! (ODLR and Saab being the other 2)
i am running to the store now with my mum on one arm and my handbag on the other!
i suddenly feel the urge to get THAT red long V dress ive always wanted!!

 

[gallianoboy]

Okay so I guess it's official as Alessandra Fachinetti will be taking his place and her first show will be in march 2008....God Bless her....(vogue.co.uk)

 

[Salvatore]

Vogue.co.uk:

BREAKING NEWS: ALESSANDRA FACCHINETTI AT VALENTINO
THEY'RE big shoes to fill, but Alessandra Facchinetti is going to give it her best shot as the house of Valentino announced today that the former Gucci designer will take the reins from Mr Valentino himself. After months of speculation, the legendary designer's decision to resign was announced yesterday, with Facchinetti's name immediately being mentioned as the favourite to succeed him. "We believe that we have chosen a design team able to give strong creative content and that Alessandra Facchinetti is the designer who can interpret and continue the legacy of Valentino’s core values at the best," said Stefano Sassi, Valentino Fashion Group's ceo. Facchinetti famously took Tom Ford's spot as head of womenswear at Gucci in 2005, only to resign two seasons later following "a disagreement with management". She will have back-up in the shape of Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pier Paolo Piccioli, Valentino's accessory designers, who will continue in their current creative positions, as the house announces a shift in focus to menswear. "I am honoured to be part of this new project," said Facchinetti. "Mr Valentino has always been a point of reference for me, an icon for his sense of style and elegance. My admiration and respect for him is endless. I will dedicate myself to this new project with great passion and enthusiasm, treasuring everything that has been done thus far, and be ready to present my first collection in March 2008." Valentino will exit after just one more ready-to-wear and one Couture collection, marking the end of a fashion era. (September 5 2007, AM)

Oh how exciting!!! So happy for her she has gotten this!

 

[jssy4eva]

Good for her.

 

[masquerade]

good for her. I don't know how she will do, but she was treated rather poorly by Gucci

 

[vogueness]

good luck to her - it is a big act to follow...........

 

[ApertureRomance]

Giambattista Valli

But I'm glad she got the spot because she wasn't pushed around by the gucci group

 

[iLoveCouture]

Wow, such big shoes to fill! I hope she does well at Valentino. I can't wait to see what she comes up with.

 

[kimair]

more from wwd:

Valentino Fashion Group on Wednesday appointed Alessandra Facchinetti as creative director of the Valentino women’s collections. WWD first reported on May 25 that VFG was courting Facchinetti, the former head of women’s wear at Gucci.

In her new role, Facchinetti, 35, will be responsible for Valentino’s couture and ready-to-wear collections, along with the RED and Roma secondary lines. She takes the reins from Valentino, 75, who on Tuesday revealed plans to retire in January 2008 after one more ready to wear season and one more couture show. His longtime business partner, Giancarlo Giammetti, also will step down.

VFG emphasized in a statement Wednesday how it worked together with Valentino and Giammetti to reorganize the creative team at the brand. In a further sign of the changing times at the house, longtime accessories designers Maria Grazia Chiuri and Paolo Piccioli have been appointed creative directors for the fast-growing category. There are also plans to strengthen the men’s wear division in the near future.

 

[Faith Akiyama]

That is exciting news I can envision her staying true to the Valentino aesthetic...

 

[Blanche DuBois]

I like the fact that she can have a second opportunity, she is great I think

but who will show to take the bow at s/s 08? valentino?

 

[liberty33r1b]

good to see her back!!!! i LOVED her at gucci.

but we'll see if she can do the trick for Valentino as well....

 

[kimair]

but who will show to take the bow at s/s 08? valentino?

valentino's last show will be the s/s 08 couture collections in january...
he will be presenting the s/s 08 ready to wear next month...

i read today that valentino's first choice to take over for him was zac posen...

 

[Dkammern]

Wouldn't it be funny if this was all a plot by Karl Lagerfeld to take over the [fashion] world?!?!

Could you imagine - Valentino by Karl Lagerfeld?!

valentino by karl lagerfeld, dior by karl lagerfeld, galliano by karl lagerfeld, nike by karl lagerfeld, ikea by karl lagerfeld, the row by karl lagerfeld, and Bitten by SJP BY karl lagerfeld! ALL AT THE SAME TIME!!!

(would be way too / if we all ended up looking like mini-karls with the collars, the shades, the ponytail and mittens and all... but that doesnt mean he wouldnt be able to handle it: he can do it all, he is non stop!lol:

 

[softgrey]

valentino's last show will be the s/s 08 couture collections in january...
he will be presenting the s/s 08 ready to wear next month...

i read today that valentino's first choice to take over for him was zac posen...

dear god!......

what a step up for facchinetti...
she gets to do couture now!...

 

[christina126]

I was hoping it would be someone like Alessandra; an Italian, who isn't as well established (as someone like Posen) who will hopefully keep Valentino's vision alive. I am very much looking forward to see what she creates.

 

[wheneveriwakeup]

Zac Posen @ Valentino surely would've rivaled the travesty that Julian McDonald created while designing for Givenchy.

Idk much about this woman's past work but it will be interesting to see this unfold. Good luck to her.

 

[J'ador-DioR]

It'll be interesting to see a woman's intrepretation/vision for the house of Valentino, hopefully she'll come into her own in a few seasons. I can already invision the bad reviews that she'll get for her fall collection....it usually takes a few seasons to get used to a new designer at an established house. I'm not really convinced that she'll deliver in the couture department though

Good luck to her

 

[leyla m.]

very very unsure about that

 

[Deleted member 7575]

dear god!......

what a step up for facchinetti...
she gets to do couture now!...

Seriously, Gucci isn't so much of a loss now. She's a top player now.