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Valentino: Brilliant Luxury
By: Godfrey Deeny
Photo by Gruber-FWD
Milan, June 25, 2001/FWD/ --- Valentino celebrated his 40th anniversary in the business last year, and
judging from the men's collection he showed in Milan Monday, there's plenty of life in the Sheik yet.
Staged on an Op Art runway printed with giant computer-graphic flowers, Sir Val opened with a flurry of brilliant
dress shirts in violet, rose and lime - the sort of tops that compliment any well-honed guy.
Just before the show began, members of the audience could be seen reading local reports of a press conference
his longtime partner Giancarlo Giammetti held in Milan Sunday, in which he ignited a polemic with Prada boss
Patrizio Bertelli.
"A partner like Signor Bertelli, who doesn't treat with great respect his designers, does not interest us.
Nor does his fashion culture," said Giammetti in a clear reference to Bertelli's infamous row with Jil Sander.
With Milan rife with speculation that the house of Valentino is on the market, Bertelli said last Friday that
he had no interest in acquiring it.
Back on the catwalk, Valentino sent out suave white linen blazers with retro square buttons, worn with embroidered
scarves and some great sandals with perforated soles and crystal straps. He also proposed some collector's-item
white linen shirts, puckered, ruched and pleated like an accordion. For evening, the standouts were snazzy
cummerbunds - which are all over Milan - with spidery crystal embroidery.
Few people do luxury like Sir Val.
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