by John Koblin

It was 9:30 p.m. in mid-November and Valentino Garavani was in his element.

The fashion designer had just finished conducting an hourlong Q-and-A about his six-decade career at the 92nd Street Y on Manhattan's Upper East Side. As he stood in a gallery space, just off the theater, dressed in a pristine navy suit with a jaunty pocket square, he was surrounded by photographers, well-wishers and waiters proffering glasses of Dom Perignon. Jazz played in the background as Mr. Garavani held court, spinning around and posing for pictures with whoever grabbed his arm.

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Source: http://www.nytimes.com/