Valvo, Carmen Marc

(1954- )

   Born in Westchester County, New York, to a Spanish/Italian family, Valvo received a degree in Fine Arts from Manhattanville College and later studied fashion at Parsons School of Design. He began his career as a designer at Nina Ricci followed by a stint at Christian Dior. In 1989, he launched his own label of sportswear and eveningwear, and his eveningwear is what catapulted him to fame. In 1998, he launched Carmen Marc Valvo Couture to rave reviews during New York Fashion Week and immediately became highly sought-after by Hollywood celebrities including Beyoncé, Kim Cattrall, Lucy Liu, Oprah Winfrey, and Catherine Zeta-Jones. Valvo is most known for his extraordinary craftsmanship, painstaking hand-detailing, masterful fit, and luxurious fabrics, many of which are inspired by his love of world travel. In addition to his evening collection, he also designs a sportswear collection, a suit collection, custom-made furs, shoes, limited-edition jewelry, and a swimwear collection.