After the spring 2009 Valentino show in Paris on Friday, company CEO Stefano Sassi told reporters it was designer Alessandra Facchinetti's last collection for the house. Over the weekend the company confirmed Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pier Paolo Piccioli, who have designed accessories for Valentino for ages, will take over as creative directors. However, Facchinetti wrote in a public e-mail the media heard of her dismissal before she did:

"It was with deep regret that I learnt from the press that I would no longer be working with Valentino…

"This news came as a great surprise since the company's top management has not yet seen fit to inform me. I would like to thank Valentino s.p.a. for showing their appreciation of my 'creative contribution and my sophisticated talent' although I deeply regret the fact that this talent and contribution do not seem to have been adequately acknowledged."

 

Here are some of my favorites from her last collection.