"Altar of Valentino": Forty Five Years of Style Exhibition, Rome
November 23, 2007
Marie Green is a fashion stylist and writer from San Diego California. She is the Fashion Editor of FINE Homes and Living Magazine and her column, “Fashion Focus” has appeared in FINE Magazine as well as LaJolla Light, The Del Mar Times, Del Mar Ink, The Carmel Valley Leader, Rancho Santa Fe Record, and The Solana Beach Sun. Marie is also the co-founder of SheWants.com.
Last month, while on an amazing trip to Italy, (see my November 2 article), I had the opportunity to visit the Ara Pacis Museum in Rome. The Ara Pacis, which means “altar of peace,” was temporarily converted to the “Altar of Valentino” for the Valentino: Forty Five Years of Style Exhibition. Even across the ocean and thousands of miles from home, my fashion sixth sense knew this was a once in a lifetime opportunity that couldn't be passed up. This four month fashion extravaganza showcased Valentino's most beautiful clothes in the city where he got his start. Of course, when touring Italy, we visited many famous museums, but I have to admit, none of them evoked the excitement that the Valentino exhibit at the Ara Pacis did for me.
For those in the know, Valentino is synonymous with style, art and beauty. His fashion house is among the world's most famous haute couture and ready to-wear fashion empires. He's been quoted as saying, “I always wanted to make women beautiful.” and he did just that with world famous beauties that included Elizabeth Taylor, Sophia Loren and Jackie O. Long before Vera Wang, Valentino was THE wedding dress designer. He designed Jackie Kennedy's dress for her wedding to Aristotle Onassis and Grace Kelly's dress for her wedding to Prince Rainier of Monaco, which is prominently displayed in the exhibition. I recognized many dresses including the vintage Valentino that Julia Roberts wore when she accepted her Oscar for Best Actress in “Erin Brockovich.” The display created a retrospective with over 300 designs, and is actually visible from the outside of the museum through glass that was meant to connect Rome and Valentino.
When the Valentino Exhibit opened in July of 2007, there was a three day celebration attended by the President of the Italian Republic, high-ranking state and city officials and celebrities including Sarah Jessica Parker, Claire Danes, Elizabeth Hurley, Siena Miller and many more. At his press conference, Valentino paid homage to the city that evoked so much inspiration and success by exclaiming, “I am truly grateful to Rome, to the Mayor and the Minister for Arts and Culture for hosting and welcoming us here for the celebration of our 45 years of activity, and I thank them for placing some of the city's and the world's greatest treasures and most beautiful places at our disposal. Celebrating such an important achievement in the only city in which I genuinely feel at home makes me very happy. Here in Rome I opened my first atelier, here in Rome were my first successes and here I work and have always worked with my collaborators. For many years I have had the honor of being Rome's Ambassador to the world, a title of which I am particularly proud and I am really pleased to be able to hold once again on such a special occasion for me.”
I have included many pictures from the Valentino exhibit in my trends section.
INSIDE SCOOP: Lululemon Athletica, an athletic wear line with a very loyal following among fitness enthusiasts all over the country, has opened a showroom at 1237 Camino Del Mar in Del Mar. Throughout each weekend, they offer complimentary yoga and fitness classes and serve as a community hub with information on anything fitness related in our area. Kirsten Hansen, community relations director for Lululemon, San Diego, says the company is really excited about opening a showroom in Del Mar because people here are so active and fitness and fashion conscious. She says the goal for this showroom is to help people locate functional workout apparel that will make them feel good too. Lululemon was profiled on the Oprah Winfrey show just last week for their quick drying apparel made with natural fibers and high tech materials tested by athletes.
