"I love beauty... it is not my fault"... Valentino

Had a very quiet weekend.
oh my, how long has it been since I drop a note here...
I feel the same thought when I looked at my unbelievably messy room.. I think I am seriously considering paying someone to clean my room properly because i will described it 'disgraceful' right now...
To my defence, 90% of messiness were from my clothes and it is all due to the lack of wardrobe space...
Anyway, I didn't end up doing much this weekend other than caught two movies... which is a good break from the usual actions/plans packed weekendd. Watch Surrogate on Friday and didn't like it very much... interesting idea though.



Watched Valentino, the last Emperor today. I love love loved this movie!



Valentino is not a brand that has been extremely popular especially in the recent years IMO, while Karl Lagerfield takes Chanel to the next level by giving a twist on its classic tweed suits as well as elaborating bags/shoes collection, Valentino has remained rather unfazed with the fashion trend changes and insisted on making something he believes in... timeless beauty in classic designs. He wants to make women beautiful. That is his sole goal.



I think the movie is a documentary for a couple of his last collections, mainly haute couture as that is probably his main focus. The dresses showed in this movie are breathtakingly beautiful. They are exquisite made, almost all hand sewn by experienced seamstresses over long hours. Valentino joked that he bought one sewing machine for 100 of the ladies and still no one used it. I see delicate fabrics got patterend and sewn together, going through sessions of fittings and emerged beautiful garments... almost like a piece of artwork. I cannot really describe how moving I felt seeing these amazingly gowns being made. They are truly timeless and does not follow trend. I do admit I am a big sucker for romanticism and Valentino's designs are right up there for me... Admittedly I never bother to check out his collections as I used to dismiss them being too mature. however after watching this movie, I see a man who holds such a strong view and vision on what he believes in. It is indeed beautiful.



On another note, it is interesting to see the interactions of Valentino and his long time business partner/lover of over 45 years, Giancarlo Giammetti. It is amazing how long they have been together even just from lover point of view. Giammetti seemed like a very charming man, while Valentino takes on the design part, we see Giammetti looks after pretty much every other aspect of the brand. He was asked repeatedly in the movie about whether he is happy to be Valentino's shadow and has gracefully answer them with pride about helping on the side. Both Valentino and Giammetti were always dressed in immuclate tailored suits and perfect hair in every scene of the movei. They sure know how to dress impeccable at every occasion. Valentino might have been portrayed as someone who has great ego and at times very difficult to deal with, however Giammetti has been able to calm him down and comforted Valentino's insecurities.



Hm.... I just realised somehow I have been typing this like an essay. Overall, it was a very enjoyable movie, I was teary at some scenes on how beautiful those gowns are. It is quite sad to see not all great designers are great businessmen, considering after Valentino's retirements and its not so successful collections thereafter, the future of the brand Valentino remained uncertain. His retirement certainly marked ther end of an era. I have recently also watched September Issue and loved it heaps also! I am so happy there are quite a few fashion house/mag documentaries around. They are so fascinating..