Valentino Red

The signature red dresses Valentino is famous for are also his most common and least interesting – according to the man himself. Nevertheless, they made a striking tableau at his 45th anniversary exhibition.

I wasn’t in Rome for this auspicious occasion, but vicariously visited behind the scenes at the Melbourne International Film Festival. The documentary Valentino – the Last Emperor showed on Saturday to a crowd (some of whom were dressed to the nines as though they were going to a premiere Valentino himself was attending) at the slightly less than salubrious Greater Union cinema.

The film celebrated Valentino’s career that spanned 45 years, and followed the last couturier around as he designed his final collections. Amidst the controversy of a takeover of his House by financiers, he prepared for the 45th anniversary extravaganza in Rome. As it transpired, he went out with a bang, for two months later he announced his retirement.

We see his seamstresses … confidently shearing fabric
and translating the master’s complicated designs into reality.

More fascinating for me than the political shenanigans were the scenes in his atelier, where we see Valentino sketching (beautifully); overseeing fittings; discussing dress fabric, form and line with his team. We see his seamstresses dressed all in white at their remarkable work, confidently shearing fabric and translating the master’s complicated designs into reality.

And what a character he is: irascible, demanding, arrogant, but with such talent and vision, why shouldn’t he be? He obviously worked hard all his life and demanded as much from himself as his employees.

When asked why he chose fashion, Valentino himself sums it up simply: He just loves beauty, and wants to make women feel beautiful. There is nothing wrong with that.