Posts with tag valentino

Out of 3,000 people polled, a list of the top 10 best red carpet dresses of all time were chosen. Some of the classics, such as Aubrey Hepburn in her 1954 Givenchy Oscar dress made it onto the list, but you're bound to be surprised when you find out what the number one red carpet outfit is.

If anyone knows how to go out with a bang, apparently it's Valentino Garavani. Riding the coattails bicentennial celebration that blew the roof off of Rome, comes an equally thrilling coffee table book that showcases the exquisite work of Valentino Garavani. Valentino: Themes and Variations goes hand in hand with the stunning exhibition on display at the Musee des Arts Decrotifs in Paris, which celebrates the legendary designers career.

Does Claire Danes always pick out the sweetest little confections you've ever laid eyes on?

At the Venice Film Fest, she wore an absolutely fantastic beaded Valentino number at the "Valentino: The Last Emperor" movie. Just another point for Miss Claire on the fashion scoreboard.

And please, check out the detailed shots. This dress is simply stunning.

• Valentino dress, Priced upon request

Gallery: Claire Danes in Valentino

A number of Hollywood's finest were joined by countless lesser-known beautiful people at the Venice Film Festival's presentation of Matt Tyrnauer's documentary, Valentino: The Last Emperor. It's only fitting that the glamorous would go the extra mile for a legend such as Valentino Garavani, and for the most part, we were not disappointed.

Elizabeth Hurley, Claire Danes, Charlize Theron, and many others showed up in style to hear Valentino's personal take on the film, such as the fact that his favorite parts of the film were, "... when I scream at Giancarlo (Giammetti)."

Next time you're heading out in the rain, or just want a little shade on an especially sunny day, why not consider this, er, unique hat from Valentino? It'd definitely keep you dry, and, best of all, it looks like a flying saucer -- what more could you want? OK, maybe the fact that you can't see while you're wearing it is a small problem (speaking of that, how did this model make it down the runway without crashing to her death?).

The odd piece of enormous headgear was part of Valentino's Haute Couture runway show in Paris last week. Couture, if you're not familiar with it, is to fashion what modern art is to painting (sometimes it's good for inspiration, other times it's just weird) -- so rest assured, gargantuan, alien-spaceship style hats won't be showing up on store shelves anytime soon.

But you know, cut out some holes for the eyes, and maybe this would work -- albeit in a Scientology kinda way. What do you think?

Those dashing boys of Proenza Schouler, Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez, just got themselves a new partner. WWD reports that the Valentino Fashion Group SpA has taken a 45 percent stake in the label. Stefano Sassi, Valentino Fashion Group's CEO will also become chairman of Proenza Schouler with Shirley Cooks staying on as the label's CEO.

Certainly Proenza Schouler is a brand on the rise, especially after last spring's collaboration with Target that exposed all of America to the young tastemakers. Valentino plunked down $3.7 million for the stake. Interestingly enough, the initial negotiations with Proenza Schouler came before recent events in which European private equity group Permira Holdings picked up a majority stake of Valentino Fashion Group through a series of deals with members of the Marzotto family, the previous owners. The new shareholders approved the Proenza Schouler deal. Valentino beat out suitors like LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton and Samsonite to claim this rising fashion duo.

In fashion, like in life, you have to expect the unexpected. But I seriously doubt that anyone at Valentino expected the unexpected would entail a naked fur protestor. At one point during Valentino's Fall/Winter 2007 show, one of the onlookers disrobed and jumped on the catwalk, wielding a sign that read, "I'd rather go naked than wear fur." (Apparently, she meant it.)

According to Washington Post fashion reporter Robin Givhan who witnessed the scene, the blase fashion crowd responded by saying, "Wow, she has no cellulite!"

Sure, you can dig through your drawers looking for that yellowed linen tablecloth you've been using for the last 14 years, the matching napking because they're yellowed, too, and fill in your glassware set with your Niagara Falls coffee mugs because someone breaks a glass every year. Sure. And maybe you'll be serving Thanksgiving dinner on overturned laundry baskets in your living room.

Or, you can go all out, and set your table a la one of the designers whom Neiman Marcus has chosen as inspiration for a gorgeous table setting. These aren't necessarily tablecloths from the Armani Casa Collezione and flatware designed by Calvin Klein. Neiman Marcus simply takes the style of fashion designers Nanette Lepore, St. John, Valentino, and home and interiors designer Jay Strongwater and put together collections of tabletop things that suggest them. I don't normally wear Nanette Lepore because I'm a little bit more of a tomboy when it comes to clothes, but the table, with crumpled linens in rich golden hues and ornate tableware is beautiful.

Believe it or not, Boston's Museum of Fine Arts (or the MFA, as those in the know call it) will bring la mode francaise to Beantown this winter. Running from November 12 to March 17, 2007 is the exhibition "Fashion Show: Paris Collections 2006".

On display will be the spring lines from ten to twelve designers, including Dior, Chanel, Valentino and Lacroix. Clearly, there will be no place for stodgy New England Puritanism here!

Though Boston in winter is not the ideal time to visit, this exhibition may cause you to reconsider your holiday vacation plans. Yes, the weather in Boston will be cold, but the styles will be hot.

Last year, I got to see the Basquiat exhibit at the MOCA in Los Angeles and was just awed by the bright colors, the energy, the incredible work left by behind by this young artist. Embarrassingly enough, I first discovered Basquiat through the biographical movie directed by Julian Schnabel (a style adventure in itself). Since then, I've been a bit Basquiat-obsessed. Designers have been too. There have been countless Basquiat T-shirts, Basquiat Reebok sneakers and now perma-tanned designer Valentino has come out with fashions that feature Basquiat prints on pants, dresses and purses. While I can't really justify the price of high fashion pants to myself it seems that the Diva purse with a Basquiat design rendered in sequins is more of an art investment than a fashion moment. It sells for $2,450.