The Red Thread

(NEW YORK) Though Valentino Garavani went into retirement, he certainly hasn't disappeared. On Wednesday night, Valentino jetted in with Giancarlo Giammetti and Carlos Souza to celebrate The Red Thread: The Inspiration and Passion of Valentino Garavani, presented by Samsung as part of the Imagination Icon Series. The exhibition had the grounds of the Grace Building awash in crimson as guests including Liv Tyler, Vivica A. Fox, Rachel Zoe, Mary J. Blige, Chanel Iman, and a slew of reality television curiosities nibbled and imbibed. With gowns in glass cases and screens broadcasting scenes from the upcoming film Valentino: The Last Emperor, which premiered at the Venice Film Festival, Valentino was surrounded by his life story.

"You know, from Venice until today, I'm going through big emotion every day," Valentino said. "It means a lot because I can see me now and me at many years ago. Over there is one of my last collections; it's quite beautiful." But does he regret retiring? "No, no because I wanted to do it, I wanted to retire because I think it was time and I would love to do something else now."

Tyler was easily the evening's standout, thanks to her height and Valentino showstopper. "I'm Liv and the giant peach tonight," laughed the actress before twirling for the designer. "Mr. Valentino makes it really easy for you. He looks at you with his dashing, bright blue eyes and says something: 'Come on alrrrready. You got the picture! Let's go!'" But she admitted that the premature madness of Fashion Week was a definitive contrast to her recent country travels. "I just returned from Maine, where I went with my son," she said. "We spent time at a lake and got eggs from the chickens, but we didn't fish. I suddenly became very guilty and conscious about even catching lobsters in front of my little boy. I tell myself 'Don't let them die.'" Fox, for her part, arrived straight from the set of Conan O'Brien. "All I want to do is meet Valentino and shake that man's hand," she said.

Valentino and Giammetti spent their summer traveling. "I've been to part of Italy with the boat, to Greece, Croatia and, of course, Venice," said Valentino.  The film, which was met with critical acclaim and excitement in Venice, left the duo quite pleased. "It was first a surprise, because we hadn't seen the movie until three or four months ago and we were expecting a very different kind of movie about glamour and red carpet. But instead, it's about people, the two of us, the way we work and the love we give to it," said Giammetti. "It's about the end of an era; it's much more profound than I thought it would be." As for the question of whether it's tougher to be a movie star or a fashion star, Valentino stood firm. "I am a fashion, hmm.... let's say, well I can say it - an important designer!"
NOLA WEINSTEIN & VALENTINE UHOVSKI