Rome Crowns Valentino as Emperor of Style

published Jul 23, 2007
Rome Crowns Valentino as Emperor of Style
When the 2007 Fall/Winter haute couture shows began in Paris, Italian designer Valentino was missing.

He'd chosen instead to show his new collection in Rome and to stage an elaborate three-day celebration of his 45th anniversary as a stylist.

The shift from France to Italy was the designer's way of paying homage to the Eternal City, both for receiving him so enthusiastically when he began his career half a century ago, and for the changes that have taken place across the Eterna in the past decades, turning it into a world-class cultural center: "I think of Rome not as a fashion capital but a culture capital," he said.

"I've come back after all those years in Paris because I think it was only right to show affection for the city that adopted me almost 50 years ago."

Among the festivities was the inauguration of a retrospective exhibit called "Valentino in Rome.

45 Years of Style" installed in the city's new Ara Pacis Museum.

The extravagant exhibit will remain on display until 28 October 2007.