Valentino - Master of Couture, Somerset House, London

The Italian fashion designer is a pure genius and after seeing the film Valentino: The Last Emperor I fell in love with not only his designs but also the designer.

When I saw Somerset House was holding an exhibition I knew I had to get tickets.

You walk down a catwalk with the chairs either side holding the beautiful dresses and the chairs reserved for his most famous fans.

There are 137 dresses with some worn by Jackie Kennedy-Onassis, Audrey Hepburn, Anne Hathaway and the dress Julia Roberts wore at the 73rd Academy Awards in 2001 when she won the Oscar for her performance in Erin Brockovich. It was a vintage 1992 design by Valentino.

The dresses are just beautiful and such craftsmanship by his girls who work in his studio.

Some of my highlights include a white satin evening gown with hand-painted coral design from his Spring/Summer 1968; a blue chiffon day dress with five layer pleated petticoat which was designed in the 1950s but realised in the 1990s, beautiful dress and a great shape; and the white ecru georgette evening dress with lace applique detailing. Worn by Jacqueline Kennedy for her wedding to Aristotle Onassis.

The white gowns made in organza, with tulle and Swarovski crystals and lace. They are beautiful and could be a evening gown or a wedding dress.

There are also some of his hand drawn designs which are just as stunning.

The exhibition is running until March 3, 2013. For tickets visit: http://www.somersethouse.org.uk/visual-arts/valentino

Icons: "I never think of myself as an icon. What is in other people's minds is not in my mind. I just do my thing."- Audrey Hepburn

Icon is defined in the Oxford Dictionary as the following: 

                  Noun

1 (also ikon) a devotional painting of Christ or another holy figure, typically executed on wood and used ceremonially in the Byzantine and other Eastern Churches.

2 a person or thing regarded as a representative symbol or as worthy of veneration: this iron-jawed icon of American manhood



3 Computing a symbol or graphic representation on a screen of a program, option, or window.

4 Linguistics a sign that has a characteristic in common with the thing it signifies, for example the word snarl pronounced in a snarling way. 
(http://oxforddictionaries.com)

Now, I am a massive fan of iconic women, I have shelves of books about interesting women that have done something in the world or been a fleeting popular culture icon.

Over the decades there have been a whole host of iconic women, including: Grace Kelly and Audrey Hepburn, Queen Victoria, another who I have a biography waiting to be read, Coco Chanel, Oprah Winfrey, Cleopatra, Jane Austen, the Bronte sisters, Amelia Earhart, Edie Sedgwick and Billie Holiday to name a few. As well as I think my idol Kylie Minogue, Madonna and of course Lady Gaga. All of which have contributed to society or popular culture, or changed people’s perspectives on issues.

I have countless books on Marilyn Monroe, her short life fascinates me. Every book I read highlights a new area that I have never seen before or a new fact that has recently come to light. Some might argue that she is not an icon but a blonde bimbo who didn't have a clue what she was doing, but the fact she was known as a dizzy blonde with a curvy body that women imitated surely highlights her iconic status. She is someone who is referred to as an inspiration for artists or actors. Also the fact that if you dig a little deeper you realise that she was not a dizzy blonde but a very smart woman who wanted a career on her own terms.

Before she died she was in the process of starting up her own production company so that she could be seen as a serious actress rather than a comedy piece of fluff. In a savvy and potentially dangerous move, she had it added to her contract that she could ask for script changes and choose the films and the directors she worked with. Something that was unheard of in the Hollywood studio system, which saw actors tied into contracts with one studio doing as they were told.

In a time when women were largely seen as either sex goddess or homely wife, with not much in between, Marilyn Monroe was trying desperately to push these boundaries to give herself a better life. As she said "An actress is not a machine, but they treat you like one, money making machine."

I have said in a previous post how I am reading a biography on Jackie Kennedy Onassis, another woman who is seen as an icon of her time, but to be honest I can see why she was a fashion icon but reading the book I am on the fence. I haven't finished it yet so I suppose I should wait but Jackie Kennedy is not what I was expecting, the book implies she knew of Kennedy's indiscretions and seemed more concerned with spending money on doing up the White House. Although on foreign visits she seemed to shine, getting on with foreign prime ministers and kings but other than that I'm not sure.

I suppose in many ways she became more of an icon after the death of her husband as this gave her the opportunity to step out of his shadow. So for now I'm undecided but will let you know what I think when I have finished the book.

It makes me wonder looking at the definition if all these women are icons. It does make you question the term, they all represent a time and a place, but then I suppose it's not the definition that counts but what the women did that matters. As long as people are still interested, reading up on or making films about them they are icons, especially if they influence future generations. 

My recent so called life...

So, since the last September post, other than starting my course, not a lot has been happening really. I have been to a couple of gigs; I saw We Are Scientists, McFly (I went with my sister who is a big fan...), and I will be seeing Paul Weller tonight. Gigs next year so far are Beady Eye, Glee, Kylie, Katy Perry and Take That. Very excited for all of them, next year should be good for gigs.


I’ve seen some good films, The Runaways, which was fantastic. I really admire what Joan Jett and Cherie Currie achieved. I was a little freaked out that they were only 15 or 16 but what they did in the music world, being the first girl punk band, it was a man's world and they burst through it was really interesting. Saw Toy Story 3 as well, which was pretty immense, not as good as the other but still good.

I am still trying to get through my Jackie Kennedy biography; I’m not finding it difficult to read, it is just trying to find time to read that is the problem. It is a really interesting book though, te way her dad was a serial womanizer and put her mum through hell, and yet Jackie knew about J.F. Kennedy’s indiscretions and just let him get away with it. I am only up until to when John is voted in as President and he has already cheated on her loads. It’s funny what some women will put up with for love.

I have a lot of fiction books to read, most of which I have borrowed from friends. Then I need to read the biography on Queen Victoria, which I have had for ages, ever since I saw the Young Victoria and thought she was really influential and interesting.


As Christmas approaches I have noticed an array of Marilyn Monroe books hitting the shelves and they have all gone on my list. People have said that I already have too many, but can I help if new books come out with new things in them!

New article: http://edition.pagesuite-professional.co.uk/launch.aspx?referral=other&refresh=Cg419Q0ai6N0&PBID=898dcbba-75b6-419a-989f-aa69bed7582e&skip=

I also will have my Weller gig review in the paper tomorrow.

That's all I think, I am going to try and post more often.

So in the words of one of my favourite films "thanks for stopping by."*





*Anchorman in case you were wondering.