Giambattista Valli

Giambattista Valli's success story proves that there is beauty in contrast. As quoted in one of his interviews, the designer used to draw colorful outfits based on what he saw on his parents' black and white television, letting his imagination and fashionsense do the talking at the mere age of five.

As a youth, Valli enjoyed a very conservative upbringing at Rome's Vatican schools, but his heart cried out for fashion.

Today, after stints at Fendi, Krizia and Ungaro, his designs thrive on that very contrast that seems to boost his creativity by reconciling sharp architectural shapes with soft ruffles and bows. His quick rise to fame has experienced a crowning moment of glory in July 2011 when he showed his very first (but most certainly not his last) Haute Couture show in Paris.