Valentino To Design for the NYC Ballet

Valentino, who retired from fashion design in 2008, is designing anew—this time for the New York City Ballet’s Fall Gala. The September 20th event aims to celebrate the legendary couturier with a performance of George Balanchine’s “Rubies”—a tribute to the designer’s signature red. In return, Valentino is creating costumes for three works that will be performed during the evening, including a new ballet set to Tschaikovsky’s “Eugene Onegin.”

Of the endeavor, Valentino says, “There is so much beauty in the ballet, the grace, the fluidity.” He is honored to have City Ballet “celebrate my work in this way,” he said, “And I am very passionate about the design of these very special costumes.” This is not the first time Valentino designed for ballet since his retirement; he designed costumes for the Vienna Ballet in 2009. Sarah Jessica Parker and Valentino’s longtime business partner Giancarlo Giammetti are set to co-chair the evening.