Roberts singled out for Valentino praise
Couture king Valentino Garavani paid tribute to Julia Roberts today when asked to name favourite actresses who have donned his clothes.
Valentino was giving a press conference at the Venice Film Festival, which has screened an intimate fly-on-the-wall film documenting the final couple of years before his retirement.
Roberts accepted an Oscar for her performance in 'Erin Brockovich' in 2001 wearing an elegant vintage black and white Valentino gown.
When asked to name the actresses who stood out for him, the designer said: “I have to be very sincere, the person that makes me feel very happy, also because (she) chose vintage, was Julia Roberts, when she got the Academy Award...
“I was very excited to see her when she appeared with my dress.”
'Valentino: The Last Emperor' is billed as a glimpse into a world of bygone glamour.
The designer announced his retirement in 2007, two months after a lavish three day celebration in Rome of 45 years in the fashion industry which drew a huge celebrity turnout.
Filmed from June 2005 to July 2007, the crew shot hundreds of hours of footage of one of Italy’s most prominent designers and his entourage, including his six pug dogs, which follow Valentino everywhere and even have their teeth brushed.
As well as lifting the lid on the fashion world, it shows tender moments from Valentino’s 50 year relationship with Giancarlo Giammetti, who said the film was “not a story of money or fashion; it is a story of love”.
The designer and Giammetti began as boyfriends in the early 1960s and became life business partners who built up a billion dollar fashion business.
The film captures intimate moments in the pairs’ lives, at times seeing them emotional, as well as taking a peek at their disagreements and their humour.
Valentino is seen giving a tearful tribute to his partner who has “stayed by my side all these years”.
At one point in the film when the bronzed Valentino asks Giammetti how he did after an interview, he is told: “You look a little bit tan.”
Valentino said today: “The film was exactly showing what I am.
“There were moments of anger, but I was completely myself from the beginning to the end and nothing was edited... I couldn’t care less about the camera.”
He said he was not worried about debunking fashion by taking part in the documentary, saying: “It is a world of dreams that fills people with interest.
“I don’t think that haute couture will ever really die. It is like a beautiful song, it will always be there and it will never go out of fashion.”
The designer was asked how many traditional Valentino principles remain in the fashion empire which he built up and what has been added.
Valentino described himself as an “onlooker” but said it was in his interest that his name should continue.
When asked what his view of beauty was he advised that women can learn to be elegant, saying: “You must not try to overdo it.”
The movie, which sees Valentino mix with Elton John, Joan Collins, Gwyneth Paltrow and Liz Hurley, was directed and produced by special correspondent for Vanity Fair magazine, Los Angeles-born Matt Tyrnauer.
Tyrnauer described Valentino and Giammetti as “the bravest people I know”.
He said there was already enormous interest in the film from countries on every continent, due to the “incredible star power and legacy of Valentino”.
Giammetti said: “We did not want this film to be a corporate movie.”
Valentino was seen arm in arm at the festival with supermodel Eva Herzigova, who towered above him.
He received a standing ovation, both when he arrived for the screening of the film and after it ended.
