January 23, 2008

Valentino's proud buh-bye: as told by someone who was there

I spoke with Dana Thomas, Newsweek's fashion writer in Paris, shortly after she left the Valentino show in Paris this evening. "It was beautiful," she remarked of the haute couture collection, the last by the label's founder Valentino Garavani who announced his retirement in September last year. Since founding the label 45 years ago, Valentino has become known for his sumptuous, elaborate gowns which, while rarely pushing the creative envelope, evoke the glamor and sophistication so beloved of his jet-setty, socialite clientele. He was known for designing the wedding gown worn by Jackie O for her wedding to Artistotle.
What was the atmosphere like at the show, I asked? Was there an end-of-an-era sadness running through the air? Did Valentino blanche beneath his permatan as he bade the world stage a final farewell?
On the contrary.
"People were proud," said Thomas. "He was proud and you could feel people were proud to know him and proud to wear him and proud to be there to celebrate the end of a chapter. There were lots of friends, Miuccia Prada and Emanuel Ungaro and you could feel they were proud to have been in his sphere. He is a class act, and a very passionate person. He just loves making beautiful clothes for beautiful women. He never wanted to change the world with his clothes, but every single thing that came out tonight, a woman would want to buy and wear. This collection wasn't for museums—it was for womens’ closets."
He is handing over the reins to Alessandra Facchinetti, who took over from Tom Ford at Gucci in 2005, only to resign two seasons later due to a "disagreement with management".

January 23, 2008 in FASHION | Permalink