WTI Magazine #5    2013 Nov, 15
Author : Annalisa Lospinuso for PoisonDrops      Translation by: Alessandra Bitetti

The story of a boy coming from Voghera who has become a symbol of the Italian fashion in the world, a story narrated by those who had the chance to meet him and work with him during these years. "Valentino. Ritratto a più voci dell'ultimo imperatore della moda" (Lindau, 304 pp., € 20) is the new book by journalist and writer Tony Corcia, who has already published a biography of Gianni Versace and soon will publish the Burberry's one. (photo courtesy of valentino) 

It can be found in the libraries sibce November 7th; this is a story written by many persons, with interviews to Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pier Paolo Piccioli, that are currently Creative Directors of the fashion house after having worked for years alongside the designer, Marta Marzotto, whose son Matthew has been President ( 2002-2007) of the group which led the fashion house. The book has also interviews to Matt Tyrnaeur, the director of the documentary "Valentino: the Last Emperor", his spokeswoman Daniela Giardina, Marina Cicogna, Barbara Vitti, Giusi Ferré, and even his greatest imitator, Dario Ballantini.

Almost as a "Valentino dictionary" the book retraces steps, events, icons, themes, colors, places of a career that lasted more than half a century, and maybe reached its biggest splendor with the "enormous celebrations for the 45 years of activity that preceded his retirement from fashion", as noted by Matt Tyrnaeur.

But this isn't the only editorial news coming from the Valentino fashion house. Last October the book "Valentino: Objects of Couture" was presented at the Gagosian Gallery in Paris. It contains a walk through about 300 illustrations, curated by Francesco Bonanni, and shows the iconic clothes from the fashion house that has dressed the greatest all-time stars. The most famous models of Valentino have been reinterpreted by the creativity of the artists David Bailey, Luisa Lambri, Nobuyoshi Araki, Duane Michals, Scheltens & Abbenes, Philip - Lorca di Corcia and Douglas Gordon.

The book is also a tribute to the work of Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pierpaolo Piccioli who since 2008 have led the creative management of the fashion house and, through a bold approach in redefining femininity together with the stylistic continuity, increased the popularity of Valentino accessories.

For more information about the world of Italian fashion go to www.poisondrops.com