April 04, 2009 9:35 AM  (go back to main view)
L.A.'s Valentine to Valentino
Valentino Garavani
As Gwyneth Paltrow kept a legion of photographers clamoring over there, Anne Hathaway passed another throng of flickering press, arm in arm with the true superstar who merited all of this wildly unfamiliar pomp and circumstance Wednesday evening at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Valentino Garavani.
This was the west coast premiere of “Valentino: The Last Emperor,” and the social ladies of the museum’s Costume Council, which hosted the event, didn’t know what hit them. Between the shouting press and the turnout—that included Tom Ford, Rita Wilson, Joan Collins, James Galanos, Kelly Lynch, Arianne Philips, Tracee Ellis Ross, Lisa Eisner and Rachel Zoe, among other of the local fashion vips—the Council had never witnessed such fever at one of their functions.
Valentino and Anne Hathaway
Anne Hathaway, Valentino, Gwyneth Paltrow and Tom Ford
The schedule was already running 40 minutes behind as I stood at the top of the red-carpeted stairs with Tom Ford and Richard Buckley, the pair patiently waiting for their date, Rita Wilson, to speak to each reporter. Tom quickly grew antsy and wandered off to check out the scene. Inside the Bing Theater, the screening time grew later as the airkissing, rubbernecking and bouncing around continued.
To boot, several dozen Costume members were shut out because the guest of honor’s guest list tripled in the hours leading up to the screening and there wasn’t an empty seat in the house to accommodate them all. Too bad. The film, which opens today in San Francisco and Los Angeles, and eventually in 25 cities nationwide, is sincerely intoxicating. Mr. Garavani and his partner in life and business Giancarlo Giammetti are captivating personalities who, unintentionally or not, communicate emotional highs and lows with a look or a gesture that keeps viewers desperate for the next scene. Certainly, the drama is due to the deft editing of the 220-plus hours of film shot from June 2005 to July 2007, when the designer is feted with a 45th anniversary party worthy of the Sun King.
Matt Tyrnauer took an assignment for Vanity Fair and decided to become a first-time director and producer to be able to fully tell this tale. The result is a highly entertaining, illuminating cinematic story. My evening mates Desiree Kohan and Raven Kauffman weren’t the only ones in the house tearing up throughout the 96-minute movie.

Director-producer Matt Tyrnauer
This trip to the museum was only one of the main events for the designer and his entourage, and the following day, Thursday, the media glow, fandom and decorations continued. Mr. Garavani was inducted in the Rodeo Drive Walk of Style, the 13th in a series that includes Ford, Gianni and Donatella Versace and Giorgio Armani (who was honored first when the ceremony was introduced in 2001 with a celebration of Oscar proportions). Anne Hathaway returned to introduce the designer to the crowd who had assembled at the corner of Dayton Way and Rodeo Drive to mark the unveiling of the plaque.
I skipped the midday occasion, instead opting for the evening book signing at the suggestion of my old friend Carlos Souza, who has worked for Valentino “many lifetimes,” as he likes to jest. I had spent the previous couple of hours interviewing Wanda McDaniel, the executive vice president of global communications for Giorgio Armani and the godmother of red carpet dressing, for my Fred Haymen bio. The two of us teetered over in our heels to Taschen and found the very limited supply of Valentino’s hefty, beautiful tome was sold out. Well, the $70 version was gone. Still on hand was the canvas-covered edition tagged at a whopping $1,800.
Beyond annoying that Taschen hadn't rushed enough from the printer. So we grabbed a Moet and joined bookless pals Katherine Ross, Ann Crawford and Dudley DeZonia and Carlos in watching the scene of groupies. Yes, groupies. When it comes to a designer of his faculty and magnetism, one who can unquestionably claim such a hyperbolic film title with the word “emperor,” we are all reduced to that.
Valentino tome and Plasticgod rendering.
So it should have come as no surprise to find Doug Murphy, the artist behind Plasticgod, patiently awaiting his turn for the designer to ink his copy of the book and a Valentino Plasticgod canvas. But it was. We carry his architect series at A+R, and he's made a name with his rock star portraits. But Valentino? Despite my best attempts to convince Doug to forgo his custom of handing over the second canvas to the subject (would Valentino really get it? I pressed him…to no avail!), I dutifully photographed the cheeky pop artist with the chic haute couturier. Valentino did, by the way, appear to like the quirkiness of such a gift and I caught him at the end of the event ensuring his assistant keep it safe.
At the end of the Champagne hour, I learned that good things come to those who wait: dear Carlos somehow scored a single copy and presented it to me. Our pals teased me in envy (I think it was teasing?!). He then pulled me toward Valentino for the inscription. That he scored a copy for me was a valentine of a gesture that meant more than the book itself.
Giancarlo Giammetti

Carlos Souza

Sketch by Valentino

Blog Comments (8):
Posted by Louis Vuit... on March 22, 2010 7:39 PM
Christian LouboutinAlexander McQueenChloeFendiGiuseppe Zanottijimmy chooManolo BlahnikMiu MiuGucciSalvatore FerragamoTory BurchUGG AustraliaYves Saint LaurentLouis VuittonLouis VuittonLVChanelGucciChloeMarc JacobsPradaMiu MiuDiorD&GJimmy ChooLoeweLouis VuittonChanelChloeGucciGucciMarc JacobsPradaMiu MiuDiorD&GJimmy ChooLoeweShoesChristian LouboutinFendiChloeYves Saint LaurentSalvatore FerragamoAlexander McQueenGiuseppe ZanottiStella MccartneyManolo BlahnikUGG AustraliaJimmy ChooTory BurchMiu Miucanada goosecanada goose jacketscanada goose clothingcanada goose downcanada goose coatscanada goose outlet
Posted by james123 on March 17, 2010 10:57 PM
Generic Viagra
Cheap Generic Viagra
Generic Cialis
propecia
Generic Cialis
Posted by jamessmith... on March 16, 2010 2:16 AM
Great Articles………….. thank you
Generic Viagra | Cheap Generic Viagra | Generic Levitra | Generic Viagra | Cheap Generic Viagra | Kamagra | Cheap Generic Viagra | Finpecia | Penegra | Generic Viagra and Kamagra | Generic Viagra
Posted by adf on March 15, 2010 8:14 PM
Christian Louboutin
Alexander McQueen
Chloe
Fendi
Giuseppe Zanotti
jimmy choo
Manolo Blahnik
Miu Miu
Salvatore Ferragamo
Tory Burch
UGG Australia
Yves Saint Laurent

We have the 100% real louis vuitton handbags,you can click our webpage: Louis Vuitton to choose handbags for yourself. Sure,someone want Christian Louboutin,we know the Louboutin shoes are so fashion all around the world,it’s the best women’s shoes,if you are a fashion girl,you can buy discount handbags or manolo blahnik in my online shop.
Posted by wds on March 14, 2010 6:20 PM
Where Can I Find a Rating on Which replica Christian LouboutinShoes Are the Best From the Rest?
Discover Why Marc Jacobs Handbags Are Of The Highest Quality.
Where to Buy Wholesale Prada Handbags?
Roberto Cavalli Handbagsis a designer whose pieces are instantly recognizable.
Where to Buy the Best cheap led online.
Here are the world's bestwholesale led lights.
Who Wore Christian Louboutin Pumpsat the Grammy Awards This Year?
Comfortable and Fashionable Men's winter boots.
replica Tiffany Can Make One Always Feel Special.
Here are the lowestcheap abercrombie.
UGG Australia Womens Highkoo Are the Perfect Ones.
UGG Australia Sundance II For Everyone.
Find Luxurious Casual Wear at theAbercrombie Men Jeans.
Find Luxurious Casual Wear at theAbercrombie Women Jeans.
Tiffany & Co. Accessories - The Emphasis is on Style.
Tiffany & Co. Pendants is Becoming a New Favorite For Women.
Posted by Boxed Sets on January 21, 2010 7:52 PM
290382728383369175 Funcom, DVD Sets the company DVD Boxed Sets that brought Boxed Set us the violent Boxed Set Dvds and bloody Age DVD Box Sets On Sale of Conan, has Boxed Sets decided to DVD TV Series establish a DVD Box Set subsidiary company under DVD BoxSets the name DVD Box Sets For Sale SweetRobot DVD BoxSet to develop and DVD Box Sets launch a Best DVD Box Sets new MMO Discount DVD Box Sets market casual Dvd Gift Sets market focused Dvd Gift Set on children and DVD Boxed Set adolescents.
Posted by watches on November 21, 2009 1:55 AM

leave replica watch Cartier Pasha transact a few dotage. Who wants, fake breitling tab Heuer facsimile watches, which mademoiselle Breitling Windrider Cockpit 18kt Yellow Gold Steel Mens Watch B4935011-G5-352A replica watches started automatically because a instant The Fake watches times change, further changes duck her Mont Blanc Mont Blanc watch plan statements.

However, you should not reckon discount Longines watches to factor used impact jewelry further Replica Chanel watch money watches that are whence flashy Piaget Altiplano Mens Watch GOA32065 wholesale tha Fake rolexreplica watch Cartier La DonaFake rolexreplica Rolex Oyster Perpetual Datejust Mens Watch 116233-BKSJdiscount IWC watchesdiscount Vacheron Constantin watchesfake Rado Hard to Find RadoFake watchesVacheron Constantin Perpetual Calendar watchAudemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Rubens Barrichello Chronograph Mens Watch 26078RO.OO.D001VS.01 wholesaleMichele CSX watchfake swiss
Posted by Richard Ni... on April 10, 2009 6:10 PM
Valentino looks so natural after all these years...!
Add a comment
Name
E-mail
snapshot of the moment
This glowing grouping is inside the Cafe ArtScience in Paris (see posting from March 9).
la vie en rose on le town
now reading

Rose
Her manuscript...
and
Star: How Warren Beatty Seduced America by Peter Biskind

Andy

Mantuana: A Novel by the authors of Wu Ming
and
This last month's issues of The New Yorker since we were away.

Welcome to the A+R Store
Blanca Apodaca
The [Un]Observed Radio Magazine
LuxiRare
Philip Wood: Cultural Translations
The Barr Code
Sewing Rebellion
TreeHugger
NotCot
Design Sponge
Apartment Therapy
Dwell Magazine
Style.com
The Sartorialist
We Love You So
The Foodinista
  1. TOGEL HONGKONG
  2. DATA SGP