VALENTINO, RETROSPECTIVE PAST/ PRESENT/FUTURE

On the weekend I visited the Goma to see the Valentino exhibition. The exhibition encompasses haute couture from the first collection designed in 1959 by the house’s founder, Valentino Garavani, through to work from the Autumn/Winter 2009–10 creations by Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pier Paolo Piccioli – appointed as creative directors for Valentino in 2008. Camera in hand, I was eager to take some photos of his masterpieces up close. But when I got there, I was told there was to be no photography what so ever, even without the flash. I was so disappointed, especially when I saw another photographer snapping away with her special lanyard on. Note to self, next time visiting the Goma make a fake id on a lanyard :). Anyway, we continued into the exhibition without my camera :( and marvelled at all the clothes and the intricate detailing. I was amazed to discover that everything was sewn by hand, even the side seams. (As you can probably guess, the photos of the dresses are not mine, i pulled some pics from the net so i could show you some of my favourite pieces)

There were a few speakers through out the day, but we were only there to see 2: Georgina Safe, fashion editor of The Australian, and Gail Reid from Gail Sorronda. We then made our way to the gift shop, with all things Valentino in gift shop form (coffee mugs, posters and post cards) but quite surprisingly they also hand some Valentino accessories in the form of scarves, bags and jewellery. Then there were the books..... every fashion related book you could think of was in that gift shop, even fellow blogger The Satorialist, and of course a whole heap of Valentino books as well. I didn't know where to start, and I couldn't just pick one..... so I bought a DVD instead lol. I have wanted to see the Valentino documentary for a while now, and being at a Valentino exhibition I thought I should purchase something related to it. We ended the exhibition on a good note at a sushi bar in the city for lunch.

 

I then watched the DVD the next day (Valentino: The Last Emperor) and I would definitely recommend it. It was bitchy, funny and a little sad at times, but a great insight into his life, and the effort that goes into each gown. Oh and his pugs are adorable, it made me want 5 pugs of my own.

SHIRT BY WITCHERY, JEANS BY NUDIE, SHOES BY COUNTRY ROAD, BAG VINTAGE,

WATCHES BY MICHAEL KORS AND VINTAGE, CHANEL TATTOO