Review

"The life and work of an important, yet forgotten figure of 20th-century fashion design." ~The Palm Beach Daily News

“In Valentina: American Couture and the Cult of Celebrity, Kohle Yohannan has revived the legend of a woman who — as much as her clients Katharine Hepburn, Marlene Dietrich and Greta Garbo — was a legend in her own time.” ~The New York Times

"Valentina preserved an air of mystery that helped solidify her authority on matters of style. The author lifts the veil to reveal… the rags-to-riches American dream narrative." ~Russia! Magazine

"The elusive designer's history is brilliantly researched in this beautiful book...a Must-Have for all fashion enthusiasts..." ~VidCatTV.com

“If only all fashion books were as brilliant as this gorgeous Valentina tome by Kohle Yohannan…” ~1stDibs.com

Product Description

Valentina was the twentieth century’s first American fashion designer celebrity, working and living on equal social footing with the clientele she dressed (Greta Garbo, Gloria Swanson, Katharine Hepburn, Millicent Rogers, and Audrey Hepburn, among others). One of the few designers who proved that America could live without the Parisian haute couture, her career is a much needed missing link in the history of American fashion. Beyond merely turning out show-stopping evening gowns, Valentina’s exotic beauty, dramatic personality, and incomparable style earned her a legendary reputation. Kohle Yohannan explores the carefully constructed persona and lore of this designer who helped define American Couture. Published in association with the Museum of the City of New York’s exhibition Valentina: New York Couture and the Cult of Celebrity, this book includes photographs, never-before-seen personal ephemera, sketches, and original platinum prints from master photographers such as Cecil Beaton, Horst P. Horst, and George Hoyningen-Huene.