January 25, 2008

Valentino's Swansong

~ "Business is ruining fashion"~




Tears rolled as the rumor from last July became reality on wednesday.

White goddess gowns, sherbet-shaded suits, signature red hue dresses, were all the highlights of the swansong catwalk.




Jason Schmidt, NY Times

Celebrities, socialites and fashion editors were all jostling for the first (and last) view of the final collection from Italian grandfather of fashion, Valentino Garavani, after a tremendous 45 years of contribution to the fashion world.


One of the few surviving haute couture labels around these days, Valentino was one I research extensively during my days as a fashion student alongside Paul Poiret and Jean Patou from the 1900s.

His intricate beadings, and flattering cuts for the body-conscious are far and above today's couture lines. The very reason why he is very much sought after on red carpets by stars like Julia Roberts, Jennifer Lopez, and Halle Berry.

The infamous vintage gown that won him free publicity
The Oscar, 2003
Source: www.smh.com.au




Valentino's signature lipstick red from 1960 donned by America's sweetheart, Jennifer Aniston
Premiere of Along Came Polly, February 2004
Source: www.instyle.co.uk





Anne Hathaway, 79th Oscar 2007



Though he is parting in happiness (I would too if I were him), yet, the entire fashion world is in mourning, even his seamstresses from his couture workshop in Rome had to wipe away tears, as decades of close collaboration came to an end.


Valentino may not be around in the design studio anymore, but he is scheduled to hit the big screen in a documentary directed by Vanity Fair's ediotr-at-large Matt Tyrnauer.



Retrospective, Ara Pacis in Rome
Source: NY Times




You can watch a short clip of his finale here


Ciao!




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1 comments:

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