From the 6th to the 8th July 2007, the glamorous world of the rich and famous came together to celebrate the 45th anniversary of Italian fashion designer Valentino's career in the business. One of the most successful fashion designers in the world, and a hero of his Italian homeland, Valentino chose to celebrate the occasion with a string of glamorous events spanning three days in the birthplace of his international career, one of the most romantic and fashionable cities in the world- Rome.

Valentino's career as a designer was one of the few in the business that was successful from very early on. Having chosen his career path at an age of just 17, Valentino completed an apprenticeship under Jean Desses and Guy Laroche in Paris. In 1959, he moved to Rome and opened a small fashion house, forming a long term business relationship with Giancarlo Giammetti who provided him with the financial backing to make it big in the world of fashion. It did not take long.

At his first international haute couture debut just three years later in Florence, Valentino took the fashion world by storm. It was the catalyst which set his career on the course towards international acclaim, where he has remained ever since. He was overwhelmed by international orders and enquiries and received rave reviews from the local press and international fashion writers from all over the world.

It did not take long before he was designing fashion for the world's rich and famous.

In 1964 Valentino was contacted by sixties fashion icon Jacqueline Kennedy who had seen the wife of the editor of American Vogue magazine wearing one of his creations at a party. A private viewing was arranged where Jacqui purchased several outfits. She was later to order her wedding dress from Valentino when she married Greek shipping tycoon Aristotle Onassis.

Jacqueline Kennedy was not the only style icon to favour Valentino's designs. During his career he dressed stars including Elizabeth Taylor, Audrey Hepburn and the late Princess Diana. His creations have always been described as elegant, timeless, stylish and feminine, characteristics which has provided Valentino's career with longevity, appealing to women of all ages and tastes, even today. Modern celebrities wearing Valentino include Jennifer Lopez, Julia Roberts and Scarlett Johansson.

Valentino was not the type to follow the rules of fashion. He preferred to make them himself. In 1966 he presented a collection of dresses in different shades of white and cream. It was a bold move in a time where the phsychedelic colours of the sixties held a stronghold in the fashion of the time, but his collection was a roaring success.

In 1969, he launched his first ready-to-wear collection in Milan, bringing his creative talent to millions of fashion devotees. He later went on to present men's fashion, fragrances and accessories. Each line continues to be a success.

As part of the recent celebrations on Rome, Valentino launched his latest fragrance 'Rock n Rose Corture' in commemoration of the event. The celebrations also included a celebrity gala dinner, attended by Valentino's rich and famous friends and Italian fashion colleagues like Giorgio Armani and Donatella Versace. Celebrities to grace the red- carpet event included Sienna Miller, Uma Thurman, Kate Hudson, Elle Macpherson, Princess Caroline of Monaco and Princess Marie-Chantal of Greece. The dinner was held in the ancient Temple of Venus, in front of the Colosseum.

The festivities also included the launch of Valentino's fall/winter 2007 haute couture collection and the launch of an exhibition celebrating the 45 years of his career. Sketches, rare archive material and 300 of the most important dresses he designed will be on display until the end of October, open to the pubic to enjoy.

The opening ceremony of the exhibition was attended by mayor of Rome Walter Veltroni, who acknowledged Valentino's contribution to world fashion, and particularly to Italian Fashion. It was clear that to Valentino that the location for the celebrations was very important.

When thanking the mayor for special access to the cities ancient buildings as a backdrop for the extravaganza, he said ' I thank them for placing some of the city's, and the world's greatest treasures and most beautiful places at our disposal. Celebrating such an important achievement in the only city in which I feel genuinely at home makes me feel very happy'.