Valentino: Themes and Variations – Valentino has always been one of my favorite designers. His exquisite designs are coveted and worn by young Hollywood and high society, as you can see on previous posts. On the occasion of his last couture collection, presented in Paris in the spring of 2008, this landmark book celebrates forty-five years of Valentino’s remarkable career. Published in association with a prestigious exhibition at the Museé des Arts Decoratifs’s famed costume department in Paris, this volume focuses on Valentino’s haute couture creations, through new photography, sketches, fabric samples, and commentary on the dresses by Valentino himself. I always felt that Valentino brings the values of a lady, he seemed to intuitively understand how to make women look beautiful. His color palette was sure to make a woman look vibrant and alive: that sizzling Valentino red; pinks and corals; ice blue; black. There were dressmaker details – rosettes, pleats, and embroidery – that took a dress from being merely a dress to an exquisite piece of art. And never was the female figure obscured by extraneous bits and pieces. I was excited to get a sneak peek at this Rizzoli publication “Valentino: Themes and Variations” by Pamela…