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Valentino Bids Fashion Farewell

Designer's swan song marks end of an era

By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff

Posted Jan 24, 2008 8:52 AM CST

(Newser) – With one last parade of models in languid, lipstick-red gowns, the Italian couturier Valentino Garavani unveiled his final collection last night. “It’s a happy collection,” Valentino told the crowd. “It’s not a collection with tears in between.” But the departure of Valentino, who dressed Hollywood stars, socialites, and royalty for half a century, signals an end to the golden age of fashion, the Independent reports. And Valentino hasn't been shy about saying it.

Valentino’s label was purchased recently, and the couturier was swiftly replaced, a sign of how commercial fashion has become. “I certainly won’t miss the fashion world. It’s ruined!” Valentino said. “Everybody's doing the same things. What's missing is challenge, creativity, cheerfulness. These days it's all about numbers!” Valentino said it would have bored him to continue; instead, he intends to employ his talents making opera or ballet costumes.

Italian fashion designer Valentino, left, celebrates with models Claudia Schiffer, left behind, Eva Herzigova, center, and Nadja Auermann after the presentation of his Haute Couture Spring-Summer 2008 collection, in Paris Wednesday Jan. 23, 2008. Celebrities, socialites and fashion editors prepare to bid adieu to Italian designer Valentino, the king of...
Italian fashion designer Valentino, left, celebrates with models Claudia Schiffer, left behind, Eva Herzigova, center, and Nadja Auermann after the presentation of his Haute Couture Spring-Summer 2008...   (Associated Press)
A model wears a creation by Italian fashion designer Valentino for his Haute Couture Spring-Summer 2008 collection presented in Paris Wednesday Jan. 23, 2008. Celebrities, socialites and fashion editors prepare to bid adieu to Italian designer Valentino, the king of the red carpet, who shows his final collection Wednesday after...
A model wears a creation by Italian fashion designer Valentino for his Haute Couture Spring-Summer 2008 collection presented in Paris Wednesday Jan. 23, 2008. Celebrities, socialites and fashion editors...   (Associated Press)
A model wears a creation by Italian fashion designer Valentino for his Haute Couture Spring-Summer 2008 collection presented in Paris Wednesday Jan. 23, 2008. Celebrities, socialites and fashion editors prepare to bid adieu to Italian designer Valentino, the king of the red carpet, who shows his final collection Wednesday after...
A model wears a creation by Italian fashion designer Valentino for his Haute Couture Spring-Summer 2008 collection presented in Paris Wednesday Jan. 23, 2008. Celebrities, socialites and fashion editors...   (Associated Press)
A model wears a creation by Italian fashion designer Valentino for his Haute Couture Spring-Summer 2008 collection presented in Paris Wednesday Jan. 23, 2008. Celebrities, socialites and fashion editors prepare to bid adieu to Italian designer Valentino, the king of the red carpet, who shows his final collection Wednesday after...
A model wears a creation by Italian fashion designer Valentino for his Haute Couture Spring-Summer 2008 collection presented in Paris Wednesday Jan. 23, 2008. Celebrities, socialites and fashion editors...   (Associated Press)
Models take to the runway after the presentation of Italian fashion designer Valentino's Haute Couture Spring-Summer 2008 collection, in Paris Wednesday Jan. 23, 2008. Celebrities, socialites and fashion editors prepare to bid adieu to Italian designer Valentino, the king of the red carpet, who shows his final collection Wednesday after...
Models take to the runway after the presentation of Italian fashion designer Valentino's Haute Couture Spring-Summer 2008 collection, in Paris Wednesday Jan. 23, 2008. Celebrities, socialites and fashion...   (Associated Press)
Italian fashion designer Valentino waves to the audience after the presentation of his Haute Couture Spring-Summer 2008 collection, in Paris Wednesday Jan. 23, 2008. Celebrities, socialites and fashion editors prepare to bid adieu to Italian designer Valentino, the king of the red carpet, who shows his final collection Wednesday after...
Italian fashion designer Valentino waves to the audience after the presentation of his Haute Couture Spring-Summer 2008 collection, in Paris Wednesday Jan. 23, 2008. Celebrities, socialites and fashion...   (Associated Press)
A model wears a creation by Italian fashion designer Valentino for his Haute Couture Spring-Summer 2008 collection presented in Paris Wednesday Jan. 23, 2008. Celebrities, socialites and fashion editors prepare to bid adieu to Italian designer Valentino, the king of the red carpet, who shows his final collection Wednesday after...
A model wears a creation by Italian fashion designer Valentino for his Haute Couture Spring-Summer 2008 collection presented in Paris Wednesday Jan. 23, 2008. Celebrities, socialites and fashion editors...   (Associated Press)
Italian fashion designer Valentino gestures towards models Claudia Schiffer, behind left, Natinalia Vodinaova, center, Eva Herzigova, and Nadja Auermann, after the presentation of his Haute Couture Spring-Summer 2008 collection, in Paris Wednesday Jan. 23, 2008. Celebrities, socialites and fashion editors prepare to bid adieu to Italian designer Valentino, the king...
Italian fashion designer Valentino gestures towards models Claudia Schiffer, behind left, Natinalia Vodinaova, center, Eva Herzigova, and Nadja Auermann, after the presentation of his Haute Couture Spring-Summer...   (Associated Press)
A model wears a creation by Italian fashion designer Valentino for his Haute Couture Spring-Summer 2008 collection presented in Paris Wednesday Jan. 23, 2008. Celebrities, socialites and fashion editors prepare to bid adieu to Italian designer Valentino, the king of the red carpet, who shows his final collection Wednesday after...
A model wears a creation by Italian fashion designer Valentino for his Haute Couture Spring-Summer 2008 collection presented in Paris Wednesday Jan. 23, 2008. Celebrities, socialites and fashion editors...   (Associated Press)
A model wears a creation by Italian fashion designer Valentino for his Haute Couture Spring-Summer 2008 collection presented in Paris Wednesday Jan. 23, 2008. Celebrities, socialites and fashion editors prepare to bid adieu to Italian designer Valentino, the king of the red carpet, who shows his final collection Wednesday after...
A model wears a creation by Italian fashion designer Valentino for his Haute Couture Spring-Summer 2008 collection presented in Paris Wednesday Jan. 23, 2008. Celebrities, socialites and fashion editors...   (Associated Press)
Models wear creations by Italian fashion designer Valentino for his Haute Couture Spring-Summer 2008 collection presented in Paris Wednesday Jan. 23, 2008. Celebrities, socialites and fashion editors prepare to bid adieu to Italian designer Valentino, the king of the red carpet, who shows his final collection Wednesday after 45 years...
Models wear creations by Italian fashion designer Valentino for his Haute Couture Spring-Summer 2008 collection presented in Paris Wednesday Jan. 23, 2008. Celebrities, socialites and fashion editors...   (Associated Press)
A model wears a creation by Italian fashion designer Valentino for his Haute Couture Spring-Summer 2008 collection presented in Paris Wednesday Jan. 23, 2008. Celebrities, socialites and fashion editors prepare to bid adieu to Italian designer Valentino, the king of the red carpet, who shows his final collection Wednesday after...
A model wears a creation by Italian fashion designer Valentino for his Haute Couture Spring-Summer 2008 collection presented in Paris Wednesday Jan. 23, 2008. Celebrities, socialites and fashion editors...   (Associated Press)
Italian fashion designer Valentino talks to reporters after the presentation of his Haute Couture Spring-Summer 2008 collection, in Paris Wednesday Jan. 23, 2008. Celebrities, socialites and fashion editors prepare to bid adieu to Italian designer Valentino, the king of the red carpet, who shows his final collection Wednesday after 45...
Italian fashion designer Valentino talks to reporters after the presentation of his Haute Couture Spring-Summer 2008 collection, in Paris Wednesday Jan. 23, 2008. Celebrities, socialites and fashion editors...   (Associated Press)
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