I have just been to the preview of the Valentino Retrospective at the Brisbane Gallery of Modern Art. It is spectacular- you can’t miss this.
At the preview
The dresses are exquisite and they are displayed beautifully. You can get up close to them and see the intricate detail and the incredible amount of work involved in putting together a haute couture gown. Couture is a word that is thrown around with abandon. Valentino is true couture. The gowns are sewn by hand and hundreds of hours have gone into each garment. It is hard to pick a favourite. I loved the gowns from the sixties, and the floral collection, and the black, and the red. There is a beaded black dress with (we counted them) at least 1,000 perfectly sewn half circles sewn around the skirt to form a kind of ruffle. I know how much work would be involved in this – it is perfect.
There are dresses worn by Audrey Hepburn, Elizabeth Taylor, Jaqueline Kennedy, Nan Kempner, Julia Roberts, Cate Blanchet – the list goes on. Any one of the gowns could be worn today, they are timeless.
Go to the Gallery to see this beautiful exhibition. It opens on Saturday 7th August and is in the Gallery until 14th November 2010. It is going nowhere else in Australia. Buy a season ticket and go often.
PS
I have been several times to the exhibition since it opened, I can’t get enough of it. The Gallery has set up a cafe in the space between to 2 exhibition rooms – a great place to take a break and discuss the gorgeous gowns.
Valention cafe at GoMA
macarons
view of the city from the cafe
the history wall
Valentino in print
a beautiful Valentino customer
Brooke Shields
Linda Evangelista with the pugs
You beat me to it! I have just posted 5 photos on face book!! What a beautiful exhibition. A definite must see for Brisbane people especially.
By: mary D on August 5, 2010
at 10:47 am
yayay in brisbane in sept… thanks for letting me know. Will get a ticket.
By: Anonymous on August 5, 2010
at 3:54 pm
Stunning! Wish I could get there to see it, I adore things like this. The construction of gowns like this must be amazing to see come together, I wonder whether they have a team to sew it all together….. interesting. Thanks for sharing. Cheers Anna
By: Anna Johnston on August 5, 2010
at 10:13 pm
Hi Anna, You should see the movie Valentino, the last emperor. It shows the back room at Valentino with lots of information about the construction of the gowns.
By: bagnidilucca on August 25, 2010
at 8:45 pm
Congratulations to the Gallery. We had the most amazing preview afternoon viewing this exquisite exhibition. A collection of beautiful, glamorous haute couture. An exhbition definitely not to miss. A seasnon ticket is a must.
By: Patricia on August 5, 2010
at 10:32 pm
Hi can I ask if if the public is allow to take photos of the dresses? Thank u
By: Tracy on August 25, 2010
at 7:01 pm
I don’t think we are allowed to take photos in Brisbane. We were not allowed to do so at the preview, but I am going back on Friday for another look, so I will ask then and get back to you. I took photos in Rome at the Ara Pacis in 2007. They are on an earlier post – Valentino is coming.
Debra
By: bagnidilucca on August 25, 2010
at 8:42 pm
I’m stunned. Had totally missed this. I could have jetted over since technically, I was almost there (well, Beijing, just a flight or two).
I have only visited Brisbane once and for a few days on my way up to the Barrier Reef, it’s a lovely city. Would have been a treat to do it all over.
By: linneabylinneanilsson on January 7, 2012
at 12:55 am
Phrizbie Design loves Linda Evangelista with the pugs
By: gillian on May 22, 2012
at 7:23 pm