Valentino: The King of Roman Fashion Continues His Reign
By Mari Davis
Photos by FW

PARIS, Jul 6, 2004/ FW/ --- Stars came out tonight for Valentino (photo at left). With Oprah Winfrey, Kirstin Scott Thomas and Elizabeth Hurley sitting front row, the king of Roman fashion sent a power pack haute couture collection that made everyone write out a wish list for additions in their wardrobes.

“It’s so beautiful, I want to cry,” Oprah Winfrey told reporters after the show. And the number one rated talk show host in the U.S. hit the mark with that statement.

From the opening cocktail dress entirely embroidered with white pearls matched with a white mink bolero and worn with white opera gloves to the closing red taffeta dress with asymmetrical décolleté; the skirt made of petals bordered with ruches accessorized with a red fox shawl with bows, Valentino was dressing today’s royals.

As the press notes said, “This is a collection for important women whose personal allure is counterpoint to the richness of their clothes.”

The whole collection is about glamour and gorgeousness, the tone set from the very beginning with the venue decorated with a gigantic Venetian glass with a gargantuan tassel, a theme which would be repeated throughout the collection.

The tassel was everywhere, from the clasp closing a bolero or as a closure to a diamante-studded belt. It is even found as an embellishment to the ivory wool coat bordered with white mink and the focal point of a bow.

The crystal and stone tassel came in natural tones, from rope to crocodile, brown and tortoise. It was the accessory of choice. Though some might say that Valentino have gone overboard with it, the drop dead gorgeous styling literally mesmerized the audience that any doubts were erased right there and then.

With this collection, Valentino disproved the pre-show rumors that he was bowing out from the starry spheres of haute couture.

“As long as Valentino can hold a pencil, the couture would go on,” his partner Giancarlo Giammetti told the International Herald Tribune.

Bravo! That is the assurance that everyone is waiting for. Long live the King of Roman fashion and may his reign continue forever.

Valentino

Valentino

Valentino

Valentino