PARIS, Jan 26, 2005/ FW/ --- With a multimedia presentation last Monday night, Roman couturier Valentino gave his audience a glimpse into his fertile mind as he showed the inspiration for each couture garment he created via giant projector screens at the Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts.

Valentino never cut corners! So, when he greeted his audience with a mini travelogue, he almost put IMAX to shame. With three of the walls of the Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts turned into giant screens, and a soundtrack that even George Lucas’s THX will be proud of, Valentino opened his show with the photos of a bull ring, while Erin O’Connor walked the runway in a black & white day dress inspired by a matador’s costume.

And as each model sashayed on the catwalk, the designer’s inspiration was projected on the screens, while Valentino let a full-capacity crowd into the secrets of how he creates a dress, a pantsuit, and a gown.

When the band Queen on the screen and the song “We Will Rock You” was on the soundtrack, the audience expected something that was rock & roll inspired. Instead, Valentino sent a gown encrusted with diamonds. The “rock” of ‘We Will Rock You’ was more for De Beers and not Freddie Mercury!

When different cuts of diamonds were shown on the screen, no one wanted to guess what was coming out because they might be wrong again. A journalist whispered, it must be something sparkly, but she was way off mark.

The Roman couturier sent out a flowing white gown with butterfly appliqué at the waist and on the model’s back, held by nude gauze. As for the diamonds… well, it was actually on the butterfly!!!

Valentino told 37 secrets all in all, yet the audience wanted more. Everyone was so mesmerized, so when the designer himself came out, there was almost a hush, then a deafening applause as he received a standing ovation from a very appreciative crowd whom he let into his world.

Valentino

Valentino

Valentino

Valentino