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Italian stylist, Valentino has two new designers, from the accessories side, and Alessandra Facchinetti was let go, after one year of work. Maybe, for Facchinetti this is a classic case of history repeating itself. Gucci also replaced Facchinetti after two seasons with an in-house accessory designer.

At her place Maria Grazia Chiuro and Pier Paolo Piccioli, responsible for ten years (previously in Fendi)  of line of accessories ( shoes and bags ).

Poor sales and an alienation of the traditional Valentino clientele are being cited as reasons for Facchinetti’s immediate dismissal.

While Facchinetti’s couture collection received critical praise, her ready-to-wear was met with mixed reviews. “Absolutely nothing was selling, the traditional Valentino customer was completely alienated.“ Permira, the private equity firm that purchased a majority stake in Valentino in May 2007, is said to be under serious pressure. A September 14, 2008, story in The Observer states that Valentino Fashion Group’s value has fallen 16 percent in the last six months, a relatively mild loss compared with some of the brand’s other assets, like the Principal Hayley group, a hotel conglomerate whose business has declined 56 percent in the same period.