You may have seen the brands Mario Valentino and Valentino Garavani and wondered what the difference is. Well, this Mario Valentino vs Valentino Garavani article is here to answer all your questions.

Mario Valentino and Valentino Garavani may have similar names, but they are very different brands. The similarities have caused a significant amount of consumer confusion, and in recent years, Valentino Garavani has sued Mario Valentino in the court of Milan over their confusing names.

If you have seen a stunning handbag with a large V logo on the front, you may have been confused about whether it is a genuine Valentino Garavani bag or a Mario Valentino bag. Well, we’re here to help with this Mario Valentino vs Valentino Garavani article.

In this article, we will take a little look at the history of each brand, the differences between them, and some top products so you can know the differences between these brands and see which one is right for you!

Mario Valentino Vs Valentino Garavani

The History Of Mario Valentino

Mario Valentino is an Italian affordable luxury brand that was founded by Mario Valentino in 1952. The brand first started by offering footwear, before expanding into other leather goods such as handbags and wallets.

Mario Valentino has a wide range of men’s and women’s bags available, meaning you can find everything from the perfect gym bag to glamorous handbags to take with you on a night out. There is also now a Valentino by Mario Valentino line, which includes women’s handbags and shoes – often featuring a circular V logo or the front of the bag emblazoned with the Valentino brand name.

There are a few Mario Valentino stores in Italy but apart from them, the brand is mostly stocked in department stores across Europe and the United States.

The History Of Valentino Garavani

The House of Valentino Garavani or Maison Valentino was founded by men by the names Valentino Garavani and Giancarlo Giammetti in 1960 in Rome.

Since then Valentino Garavani has become a major name in the fashion industry, offering a wide range of high-quality products, including womenswear, menswear, and accessories. Valentino Garavani has an haute couture line which is wildly popular at the moment, as well as a diffusion line named RED Valentino, which offers stylish clothing and accessories at a slightly more affordable price.

The current creative director is Pierpaolo Piccioli, who is continuing to keep Valentino at the forefront of the fashion world with striking, innovative designs that are loved by celebrities, influencers, and fashion editors all over the world.

Differences Between Mario Valentino Vs Valentino Garavani

There are several significant differences between these two brands, making it easy to decide which brand is right for you!

1. PRICE RANGE

Let’s begin with the price range Mario Valentino bags range between $425 and $1,100, while their shoes are sold for between $300 and $500.

On the other hand, Valentino Garavani bags are available for between $890 and $4,350, while shoes retail for anywhere from $420 to $1,550. As you can see, Valentino Garavani is much more expensive.

2. MATERIALS

The materials used have an effect on the price range of both of these brands. If we are just looking at the bags, we can see that most Mario Valentino bags are made from leather for a stylish look and luxe feel.

Valentino handbags are made from either calfskin or lambskin leather which are typically higher-quality leathers that guarantee a luxurious result.

Although both brands make their bags from leather, Valentino Garavani displays they are a luxury brand by explicitly naming the exact top quality leather they are using, so that customers can rest assured that their bags are of the highest standard.

3. BRAND VALUE & APPEAL

If you are a fashion connoisseur, you have no doubt seen pictures of Valentino Garavani’s atelier dresses that are donned by celebrities on red carpets. Or, you may have caught a glimpse of one of the many haute couture runway shows that the brand frequently participates in.

Thanks to the craftsmanship, interesting haute couture collections and great brand vision and marketing, there is no doubt that Valentino Garavani is a luxury brand. However, this cannot necessarily be said about Mario Valentino.

Even though Mario Valentino’s bags cost a pretty penny, it does not have the same brand recognition as Valentino Garavani. You won’t see Hollywood celebrities wear Mario Valentino’s designs – instead, you’ll find some of its bags at Nordstrom Rack.

The more famous and critically acclaimed brand of the two is definitely Valentino Garavani.

Is Mario Valentino A Luxury Brand?

Even though some Mario Valentino products carry a relatively big price tag, the brand cannot be considered a luxury brand in our opinion; it’s more of a premium or an affordable luxury brand that’s in the same category as Calvin Klein, Michael Kors and Coach.

The main reasons for this is the materials used aren’t on par with more established luxury brands like Louis Vuitton or Gucci, and the fact that you can find many of the brand’s products at discount/outlet sites like Nordstrom Rack.

Best Selling Items From Mario Valentino And Valentino Garavani

Mario Valentino and Valentino Garavani both have a wide range of stylish goods to offer, so we have narrowed it down to a couple of best-selling items so you can work out which brand is better for you!

1. SMALL BAGS

Valentino by Mario Valentino offers handbags, shoes, and accessories with sophisticated designs – just like this Paradis Super V Shoulder Bag.

This shoulder bag has a classic box silhouette with a prominent metallic V logo on the front of the bag. The gold hardware adds a little glamour, while the foldover tab closure opens to reveal a rather spacious interior.

On the other hand, the Valentino Garavani bags have a bolder logo sitting on the front of the bag, as you can see from this VLOGO Leather Camera Crossbody Bag.

This Valentino Gravani bag is made from supple calfskin leather and decorated with striking gold hardware. The bag comes with a detachable top handle and detachable and adjustable shoulder strap so you can adapt the bag to suit your look.

2. TOTE BAGS

This Valentino by Mario Valentino Estelle Leather Tote Bag has a timeless silhouette that is trendy and modern at the same time.

The tote is crafted from pebbled leather, which looks great and is super durable, and is then embellished with a studded beige V logo for a stunning tonal design. The bag has an open top which means you can easily access the roomy interior and two zipper pockets.

If you are looking for a tote bag with classic elegance, then this Valentino Garavani VLOGO Signature Small Canvas & Leather Tote Bag is perfect for you.

The bag is made from beige canvas, trimmed with tan leather, and embellished with a gleaming gold VLOGO. The bag is fitted with two leather top handles, but also comes with a detachable long shoulder strap so you can style the bag in many different ways.

3. SHOES

Within the collection of Mario Valentino products, you will also find some great shoes! These Calliope Ballet Flats are just one example of the trendy shoes they have on offer.

These ballet flats have timeless appeal with their embossed Mario Valentino logos on the smooth leather, as well as the glittering gold Mario Valentino logo at the front of the shoe. The flats come in black and beige – perfect to match with a multitude of summer outfits.

We love the timeless elegance of these Valentino Garavani Rockstud Slide Sandals!

These incredible heels are made with understated beige calfskin leather and embellished with gold rockstuds, which feature on many Valentino Garavani accessories and have subsequently become synonymous with the brand. The pumps are finished with an open toe and a 2 1/2-inch block heel for ultimate comfort.

Conclusion

Although these fashion houses have similar names, they are very different brands with very different values. Mario Valentino has a smaller range of bags and shoes on offer, and the prices are much more affordable.

This shows how Mario Valentino is a decent brand to turn to if you are looking for a stylish bag on a tighter budget, but keep in mind that it is not a true luxury brand, and so its not as highly coveted as Valentino Garavani.

However, if you are looking to buy yourself a luxury designer bag, Valentino Garavani is the brand for you. This designer brand has a stunning fashion line and a collection of luxurious designer bags and accessories that are so chic and sophisticated. Plus, if you ever want to sell your designer goods on the secondhand market definitely turn to Valentino Garavani, as many sites like Fashionphile don’t even accept Mario Valentino products!

If you do see a handbag with a V logo, take a close look at the design of the logo; if it is circular, it is Mario Valentino, while Valentino Garavani has a square logo. Plus, it’s always good to check for any branding inside the bag to determine whether it is a Mario Valentino or Valentino Garavani handbag.

We hope you found this article analyzing Mario Valentino vs Valentino Garavani helpful! For more luxury fashion content, check out the links below.