At one point in the documentary Valentino: The Last Emperor we watch
fashion legend Valentino turn white fabric into an intricate,
silver-sequin-kissed gown. It’s impossible to deny the dress is
beautiful. The film’s set at the end of a fashion era—the demanding
designer and his indispensable longtime business partner are planning a
retrospective honouring their 45-year career. Valentino retired soon
after. VTLE respectfully, concisely (if over-reverently) demonstrates
the designer’s enormous impact on fashion. But watching that
ostentatious, self-important final show, it’s hard to share the sorrow
wracking Gwyneth, Uma and the event’s other guests. Valentino didn’t
die, guys. He just stopped making dresses.
This article appears in Sep 10-16, 2009.
