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All That Glitters is Valentino
By: Godfrey Deeny
Photos by Gruber-FWD
Mar 14, 2002/ FWD/ --- From the burnished gold invitation to the Perspex-covered gilded
catwalk to the clothes fit for a soiree in a nightclub, this was a glittering Valentino
collection par excellence.
That old seductive master was at his best Tuesday in Paris with a feminine and opulent
collection of clothes that can't really be worn in lots of different milieus, but certainly
make a splash when they are.
Opening with a trio of pouting blondes in masculine cashmere coats with fox fur collars and
finishing with some haughtily grand silk-mousseline columns, this was a collection for
high-maintenance, well-coifed, politely speaking girls, in short, Val's clients.
It may not win a hoard of new customers, but it had a self-assured charm that was hard to beat.
Sir Val broke new ground with his accessories, in particular, with the football-sized leaves
in gold as belt buckles or pendants like pincushions.
His little black dresses with bows were perfect for a girl whose key appointments in a
given day are lunch and a cool opening.
Few people can match Valentino for evening, and this show was no exception.
Exceptionally beautiful was one look with a black cashmere sweater and a long skirt
enlivened with black and gold sequins.
It oozed class.
Rumors continue to swirl that Valentino's owner HdP was close to sealing a deal to sell
the fashion label to Italian group Marzotto.
FWD asked Valentino's long-time partner Giancarlo Giammetti what was up.
"Sorry, really, but I can't comment," replied Giammetti, boss of a fashion house understood
to have posted sales of $115 million in 2001.
Rumor had it that HdP was looking for $220 million for Valentino.
After this metallic collection, maybe they should up their price.
Valentino
Valentino
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