Valentino Garavani

Style

Behind the Scenes With Valentino and the New York City Ballet

The New York City Ballet's new season kicks off tonight with the company's fall gala. Sadly, I'm not lucky enough to attend this time/split my dress open and flash my panties to New York's fanciest, but the NYCB's Facebook page just released a slew of behind-the-scenes images of Valentino working on the costumes--so I almost feel like I'm there. Also? The costumes are incredible.

Style

Last Night's Party: Sarah Jessica Parker, Claire Danes, Courtney Love and More Brave the Rain to Fete Valentino

When Franca Sozzani spoke at the press conference announcing the launch of the Valentino Garavani Vitrual Museum--a project funded entirely by Garavani and his longtime partner Giancarlo Giammetti to virtually house and showcase five decades of Valentino--she said celebrities love to wear Valentino and “not because they have been asked.” And last night, despite high winds and an icy deluge, a lot of celebrities wearing a lot of Valentino turned out to celebrate the designer's groundbreaking new museum at a party at the IAC Building.

Business

The Valentino Garavani Virtual Museum Launches and It's Amazing (and Highly Addictive)

"I was at the Kennedy Center Honors last night so I haven't slept, so things are gonna get funky," Anne Hathaway said, on hand yesterday for the launch of the Valentino Garavani Virtual Museum at MoMA. "I'm bringing the funk to MoMA!" Hathaway looked gorgeous in Valentino and well-rested from my vantage point, but some awkward moments (at one point she said, while on stage, 'I'd like to invite Mr. Valentino and Mr. Giammetti to invite me to the stage") seemed to confirm that she hadn't slept much (and maybe enjoyed some champers,too). But Hathaway's kooky emceeing couldn't detract from the truly groundbreaking work Valentino and his partner Giancarlo Giammetti have achieved in creating a virtual museum that houses and comprehensively breaks down five decades of Valentino's work. Hathaway called the museum a "revolution" and that she did not believe that word choice was "hyperbolic." We're with her there. A quick run down of what you'll find upon downloading the Valentino Garavani Virtual Museum (here's the link):

Business

Valentino To Launch Virtual Museum Featuring 5,000 Images, 95 Runway Shows and More; Here's a Peek

When so much of the fashion world seems to be launching retrospective coffee table books and museum exhibitions, Valentino is cutting out the high price tags and long lines with a virtual museum. It's literally an entire museum dedicated to Valentino, but on your computer through a desktop application you can download online on December 5. According to a release, the retrospective museum, which spans 50 years of Valentino, would cover over 100,000 square feet if it were real. In addition to over 300 gorgeous dresses from the Valentino archives, the museum's content will include sketches, illustrations, ad campaigns, editorials and photos of events and memorable red carpet moments (Jackie O, Julia Roberts, etc). There's also a library of 5,000 images and 95 runway show videos.

Style

Oscar de la Renta Spring 2012: Glamorous Celebrities (Ahem, Justin Timberlake) Turn Out to See Glamorous Clothes

Why build to a dramatic finish when you can open with a bang? At least that seemed to be Oscar de la Renta's philosophy when he presented his spring 2012 collection yesterday at a gritty unfinished space on W. 42nd St.--a move from the Upper East Side Park Ave. location where he's been showing for years. Models burst out onto the runway in silk taffeta ball gowns in marigold, emerald and tomato that billowed down the longest runway I've ever seen to a soundtrack of, get this, Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd. Really. There were still plenty of embroidered and crocheted cocktail day appropriate for de la Renta's core ladies-who-lunch clientele, but with the new show space and bad ass rock soundtrack the designer seemed to be turning over a new leaf with renewed energy. If you needed more proof that there was a new Oscar in town this season, look no further than the youthful star-studded front row. While de la Renta's front row is usually stacked with his posh friends and buyers, this season Justin Timberlake was there (we overheard him exchanging pleasantries and tennis with Anna Wintour), a few seats down from him was Ashley Olsen (she and JT were both wearing black suits), and across from Ashley was New York fashion week's unexpected new star, Nicki Minaj (she wasn't wearing pants and had on a tiger hat complete with ears). The tanned glory that is Valentino Garavani was also there, a few chairs down from Barbara Walters. But back to the clothes.

Fashion Week

Image of the Day: Carine Roitfeld, Anna Dello Russo and Valentino Sing Karaoke at a Strip Club

So, this happened last night. Fashion's largest personalities got together to celebrate Carine Roitfeld's collaboration with Barneys' fall campaign and sing karaoke at Westway, a former strip club on the West Side highway. Oh what we would have given to be a fly on the wall for that party and know which song Roitfeld and Anna Dello Russo chose to sing. Luckily The Cut's Bennett Marcus was there and he polled the crowd for their "first creative encounters" with Roitfeld. Bruce Weber's answer takes the cake:

Style

Fashion News Roundup: Valentino Goes on Display, Couture Flourishes, and Anime Eyes Scare People

Je t'aime: Think Paris can't be shot uniquely? Not so. Aldona Karczmarczyk does it with Iza Olak for Polish pub Twój Styl. {Fashion Gone Rogue} Freaky Monday: A hilarious dude has kidnapped Jezebel for a day. We can't wait to read his take on airbrushing. {Jezebel} Seeing Red: A new museum holding over 10,000 sketches (and a selection of 12,000 dresses) by Valentino Garavani will open to a select group on Wednesday night. {WWD, subscription required} Surefire Couture: The niche industry has seen a hefty increase in sales over the last year. {Vogue UK}