In the book Azzurro. Sotto le stelle tailor Bruno Piattelli recounts the history of Italian fashion through his memories and through various interviews with designers and fashion industry representatives. One of the designers interviewed in the volume is Valentino who talks about the importance of haute couture and how this art will never die thanks to the new inspirations, ideas and innovations that are constantly introduced season after season.
Haute couture always meant for Valentino impeccable garments, perfect shades of colour and precise embroideries, in a nutshell high fashion is conceived by the Italian designer as an artistic vision that turns into reality. Though profits are usually lower in haute couture than on manufactured clothes, accessories and beauty products, for the real couturier and for his collaborators the extravagances and madness of high fashion is often an irresistible way of life. “Haute couture is alive today more than ever,” Valentino stated in the Piattelli interview, “it’s something that makes people dream and generates desires.” Though brief, this interview perfectly summarises who is Valentino and his thoughts and ideas about his work.
In the same interview, Valentino mentioned two icons of style, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis and Julia Roberts. 
During yesterday’s press conference at the Venice Film festival where Matt Tyrnauer’s film Valentino: The Last Emperor was premiered, the designer mentioned again Julia Roberts as one of the actresses that made him happy by wearing a vintage black-and-white gown from a 1992 collection when she was awarded the best actress Academy Award for Steven Soderbergh’s Erin Brockovich.
Yet the celebrities who were at yesterday’s film premiere and at the exclusive party at the Guggenheim Museum Definitions */
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–> weren’t the highlight of Valentino’s day. The best moment was indeed the standing ovation the film received. Check out my piece on the Dazed Digital site to know more about The Last Emperor.
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