This is a lavish celebration of Valentino's creative genius. Introductory essays on "Women Wearing Valentino" and "The Myth of the Artist" romanticize Valentino's life and career in the style of fashion magazines. The most significant sections of the book consist of direct quotations from Valentino, revealing his sources of inspiration; these are successfully juxtaposed against gorgeous photographs of the clothing and accessories. There are nearly 500 photographs, with over 300 in color (most contain brief captions). Chapter headings--e.g., "Red," "Rome," "Flowers," "From the Sea," "Bows," "Art," "Zoo," "Folk"--denote the varied artistic, historical, aesthetic, ethnic, and environmental influences on the famous couturier. The selection of 250 sketches representing his collections from 1960 to the present would have benefited greatly from captions and commentary. This book will attract wide popular interest and will also be of value to industry professionals. - Library Journal -- amazon.com
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