Shopaholics Anonymous Malaysia: Hail Couture.... Valentino's 45th Anniversary Celebration

Monday, July 09, 2007

Hail Couture.... Valentino's 45th Anniversary Celebration

Italian designer Valentino Garavan celebrates his 45 years of involvement in the fashion world with a spectacular celebration at the Ara Pacis Museum in Rome, the eternal city.

The exhibition features Garavan's selection of creations from the beginning of his career as a fashion designer to one of the most iconic Italian designers of the century. The celebration kicks off with the exhibition opening on Friday at the museum designed by architect Meier, followed by a dinner at the Temple of Venus.

Oscar-winning set designer Dante Ferretti recreated the Temple with fiberglass columns that creates a stunning illusion compounded by the real-life and looming Colosseum that provides a surreal backdrop for an aerial ballet of Valentino-clad fairies.

On the following Saturday, guests were treated to a couture collection presentation and black tie gala ball at the Villa Borghese. Guests includes royalties such as Empress Farah Diba of Iran, Princess Caroline of Monaco-Hanover, Princess Firyal of Jordan and Marie-Chantal of Greece; celebrities (Uma Thurman, Elle Macpherson and Sienna Miller to name a few), plus a number of Italian aristocrats and American creme de la creme. Not to forget the most important guest of all ... guess who?

Yes, US VOGUE's Anna Wintour and her editor-at-large Andre Leon Talley. The duo were at the party in Rome to join the celebration, along with other fashion editors who are not as prominent as her *wink*.

Most of the guests were clad in Valentino as a way to pay their homage to the celebrated designer and partied till the wee hours of the morning. Below are the snapshots taken from the event, thanks to Style.com!

The ever-stunning Brit Liz Hurley a.k.a Mrs. Arun Nayar in one of Valentino's creation - multi-tiered white tulle gown with embellished bodice. By the way, where's Arun?

Well, well... looks like she learned a lot from the devil herself - Miranda Priestly. Anne Hathaway looks amazing in Valentino. Love the train!

Valentino Garavan accompanies Her Royal Highness Princess Rosario of Bulgaria to the Black Tie Gala Dinner, Villa Borghese.

The soap diva Joan Collins is making her grand entrance to the party. I wonder who is that man standing beside her. Hmmm!!!

Two beauties from two different continents - former model Elle Macpherson of Australia and American actress cum former model Uma Thurman.

*Photos by Marcio Madeira and Billy Farrell/Patrick McMullan for Style.com/VOGUE

Valentino - Adorn Floor, Starhill Gallery, 181 Jalan Bukit Bintang, 55100, Kuala Lumpur.

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FROM THE STYLE DESK

Hello my darlings,

I was never a fan of Stepford Wives. Even though it’s just a work of fiction by late Ira Levin, I simply find the storyline distasteful – an atrocious depiction of a man’s ideal utopia: a suburb or state of mind, tuck from the rest of a normal society somewhere near Connecticut where men will always be kings and women will bow to them as slaves.

And although I really love its main character Joanna Eberhart, her ending – she became one of the Stepford Wives at the end of the story, along with her rebellious neighbour Bobbie - was something I did not expect. But thank God, Nicole Kidman did not suffer the same in the latest version of the movie (err, is 2004 still considered as ‘latest’?)

However, no matter how profound my hatred is on Stepford Wives, be it the novel or the films, I could never hate their vibrantly coloured wardrobes and classic silhouettes, epitomising the poster housewives’ look of the post-war age. Well, easily said, think of what you often see on Katy Perry’s svelte body.

Now, good news for Stepford Wives’ style worshippers – the Stepford style is back to haunt your wardrobe come next year’s spring/summer season. Yes, that’s what my trusted source says and I ain’t kidding you!

So, what can you look forward too? Well, for starters, one can look forward to sundresses and day gowns with skirts blown up to full proportion, tartans and fruity floral prints like the cherries, lemons and pomegranates to name a few.

As for evening, stash some cocktail rings in candy hues, pantsuits in jewel toned Thai or shantung silk or dramatic drape evening dresses with elegant silhouettes or with generous embellishments. Ah, what a nice mix of style to shoo away those cloudy economic days next season.

Anyway, those that I mentioned above are just some of my predictions. What’ll be in stores for next season? We’ll never know until the fashion week curtains are raised within the next few days. So, before we parting ways, always keep that positive mood on 24/7 and let’s embrace the incoming season with lots of fun-filled roleplays!

Kisses and Hugs,
Shaiful

STYLE-GRAM

Kenzo is back after a long hiatus from Malaysia's fashion scene. Check out their new store with fab new interior concept at the Starhill Gallery.

H&M fans, be prepared for Sweden's much-loved high street fashion retailer is going to arrive in style in KL very, very soon! Word has it that the first ever H&M store in Malaysia is set to be located in the heart of KL's Golden Triangle. Want to know where? Watch this space!

New York multi-brand store scene is taking Tokyo by storm! First, there was Kirna Zabête; now comes Opening Ceremony! Officially opened last June, Opening Ceremony Japan carries cult clothings and accessories designed by top-notch designers like Alexander Wang, as well as Chloe Sevigny for Opening Ceremony collection!

Is Dior flagship at Starhill Gallery getting another round of facelift? Just wait and see.

Judith Leiber's infamous minaudiere collection is now available at TriBeCa, Suria KLCC.

Fans of Louis Vuitton in Indonesia welcome Louis Vuitton's flagship store at Plaza Indonesia, Jakarta. The store carries complete array of Louis Vuitton goodies, including special items exclusive to the store.

Max Mara's flagship store is now open at Pavilion KL.

COPIES ARE UNCOOL!

I know how tempting designer goods are and many would do anything to get their hands on them. And since an original bag would set us back at least a one full-year salary, then the only way left to satisfy our temptations is by buying either fakes or replicas.

You see, to create something that's lustworthy and iconic is not an hour or two task. It takes not just months but even years for designers to come with something regarded as the 'it' thing by the world. And do you know that it takes more than 20, or sometimes up to 100 working hours for a craftsman to put an 'it' bag together, compared to the mere 3-5 hours taken by a machine to do the same thing! Painstaking? Yes, it is!

And what's more, I hate how the way many replica or fake branded goods-selling websites boasting how they could create the similar thing using so-called new technologies and stuff.

Just put yourself in the shoes of an artist who has been working hard to get his name and creation well-loved and recognised by the world, and you certainly feel the pain and agony he or she feels, even though the fashion house might be paying him thousands or millions in monthly salary.

So people, start reconsidering what you're doing. It's never to late to save your money for something that's worth your hard work all these years. Besides, designer bags will always be in fashion even when their 'it' days have long gone. Support real designers and say NO to replicas and fakes.

Shopaholics Anonymous Malaysia

Monday, July 09, 2007

Hail Couture.... Valentino's 45th Anniversary Celebration

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COPIES ARE UNCOOL!

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