la dolce vita

is there any designer, or man for that matter, who understood so well what it means to be the ultimate feminine as Valentino Garavani? the first time I ever saw a Valentino dress was the spring collection of 1988. he sent down a dress made of chiffon and crepe that was fitted so close to the body that it made the model look as if she had a cloud wrapped tightly around her.


instantly, I wanted to be that--lean and lithe and fierce. a floating mist of wispy chiffon draped around a core of steel. living in a world of acid-washed denim and silver chains, I had a glimpse of what I could make myself out to be: coolly luxuriant, nonchalant, sublimely elegant; a woman.


I'm still aiming for that, even if right now it's mainly a core of flab encased in polyblend wool and microfiber. one dares to dream.


I'm sad to know he's retiring, sadder to imagine the summer shows without his ribbons and twirls, and saddest to think I will never walk by the Valentino window and gasp at the sight of seeing something like this ever again: