Valentino was born on this day 80 years ago and to celebrate Vogue.it has paid tribute to the iconic octogenarian with a slide show retrospective. Although the Italian retired a few years ago his influence is still felt at the house he founded in Rome in 1957 now under the creative aegis of Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pier Paolo Piccioli. A true legend, Valentino established enduring relationships with Liz Taylor, Sofia Loren, Jacqueline Kennedy, and myriad influencers of their respective decades. Earlier in the week Valentino was pictured on the red carpet at the Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute’s spring gala alongside Sarah Jessica Parker. [Vogue.it]

Hannah Holman (Ford) spoke with online boutique Shop Ghost about growing up in rural Utah and her approach to personal style, which is a mixture of trade (lots of Marc Jacobs) and vintage. Shop Ghost creates a shoppable look for Hannah. Click here to shop our own looks for Hanne Gaby (Ford), Julia Nobis (Ford), and more. [Shop Ghost]

Christian Louboutin is reportedly poised to enter the beauty market in a joint venture with New York-based Batallure Beauty LLC. Under the name Christian Louboutin Beauté, the newly formed company plans to introduce its first products for global sale in late 2013. “Beauty products also have to do with empowering women,” Louboutin said speaking to WWD. “That’s very much the job of the shoes I’m designing.” Exactly how the brand’s signature red sole will translate into the new products remains to be seen, but there is little doubt that the move will be well-heeled. [WWD]

Giorgio Armani has unveiled the Olympic kit he has designed for his native Italy. Fifteen Italian Olympians modeled the kit on a runway in Milan on Thursday. Armani joins Stella McCartney (Team GB) and Ralph Lauren (USA) as another of the major designers to create uniforms for the London 2012 Olympic Games. [Guardian.co.uk]

Hannelore Knuts (Ford) wears Valentino | Vogue Italia marzo 2001 (Photography: Steven Meisel)