Yesterday I visited the Valentino Master of Couture exhibition at Somerset House. The exhibition was a celebration of Valentino’s life and work and showcased over 130 of his Haute Couture designs.
As I entered the exhibition my eyes were immediately to the Valentino emblem which was a giant rose coloured by a hologram. This was preceded by a timeline spanning 60 years of Valentino’s life and achievements. Below were four glass cabinets where visitors could peruses invitations of past shows, press cuttings, magazine covers, photos, original sketches, swatches and personal thank you cards and letters from celebrities.
The main section of the exhibition was by far my favourite which was set out in the style of a catwalk show. Beautifully dressed mannequins were positioned on either side of the runway in between Louis XV style chairs with personalised name cards of famous woman who have worn his creations or attended his shows. These included Audrey Hepburn, Jennifer Lopez, Giselle , Liza Minnelli, Iman, Grace Kelly, Sophia Loren and Gwyneth Paltrow.
The 60 meter long runway allowed the visitors to get up close and personal with Valentino’s designs and appreciate the detailed artistry that goes into creating such master pieces. The collection included dresses, skirts, trouser suits, coats, capes and exquisite gowns designed specifically for Jackie Kennedy Onassis, Audrey Hepburn and Julia Roberts.
The exhibition ended with the wedding dress worn by Princess Marie Chantel of Greece when she married Prince Pavlos in 1995. The wedding dress was made from ivory silk, encrusted with pearls and had a four and a half meter train made from 12 different kinds of lace.
This was followed by examples of the various sewing techniques used to create some of the gowns that appeared in the exhibition.
The intricate craftsmanship, skill and design that goes into constructing each and every one of reason why Valentino is the master of couture.
These photographs are courtesy of Valentino and Somerset House
