Valentino - The Last Emperor

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0:00:27 > 0:00:28Valentino?

0:00:30 > 0:00:31No, no, no, no.

0:00:32 > 0:00:34No, no, no, no.

0:00:34 > 0:00:36Valentino?

0:00:42 > 0:00:47How does it feel being the only designer in the world who's managed to last 45 years?

0:00:47 > 0:00:52- I feel wonderful.- Do you ever think of retiring and giving up?

0:00:52 > 0:00:55Maybe one day, certainly! I cannot!

0:01:40 > 0:01:42What is the idea of glamour?

0:01:42 > 0:01:45This is my blood, you know?

0:01:45 > 0:01:50What I do. Like I love a beautiful lady,

0:01:50 > 0:01:53I love a beautiful dog, I love a beautiful piece of furniture.

0:01:53 > 0:01:57I love beauty. It's not my fault.

0:01:57 > 0:01:59What do women want?

0:01:59 > 0:02:03- I know, I know, I know what women want.- And what do they want?

0:02:03 > 0:02:05They want to be beautiful.

0:02:05 > 0:02:08APPLAUSE

0:02:13 > 0:02:16Girls, now, now, now, now, now!

0:02:16 > 0:02:18MUSIC: "Bette Davis Eyes" By Kim Carnes

0:02:18 > 0:02:20# Her hair is Harlow gold

0:02:21 > 0:02:24# Her lips are sweet surprise

0:02:26 > 0:02:29# Her hands are never cold

0:02:29 > 0:02:34# She got Bette Davis eyes She turn her music on you

0:02:35 > 0:02:38# You won't have to think twice

0:02:40 > 0:02:42# She's pure as New York snow

0:02:43 > 0:02:46# She got Bette Davis eyes

0:02:48 > 0:02:52# And she'll tease you She'll unease you

0:02:52 > 0:02:56# All the better just to please you

0:02:56 > 0:02:58# She's precocious

0:02:58 > 0:03:04# And she knows just what it takes To make a pro blush

0:03:04 > 0:03:12# She got Greta Garbo stand-off sighs She's got Bette Davis eyes

0:03:13 > 0:03:18# She'll expose you When she snows you

0:03:18 > 0:03:22# Off your feet with the crumbs She throws you

0:03:22 > 0:03:24# She's ferocious

0:03:24 > 0:03:31# And she knows just what it takes To make a pro blush

0:03:31 > 0:03:38# All the boys think she's a spy She's got Bette Davis eyes... #

0:03:39 > 0:03:44APPLAUSE

0:03:51 > 0:03:56# And she'll tease you She'll unease you

0:03:56 > 0:04:00# All the better Just to please you... #

0:04:03 > 0:04:07Wonderful! Wonderful!

0:04:07 > 0:04:11- 45 years later...- The clothes. - ..and Valentino is still leading the way in glamour.

0:04:11 > 0:04:16Sexy! I had a hard-on the whole time.

0:04:16 > 0:04:22Valentino's haute couture show has sparked rumours Valentino may be about to retire.

0:04:22 > 0:04:24But the designer, who's in his seventies,

0:04:24 > 0:04:27- denied it.- And it was quite moving, as well,

0:04:27 > 0:04:28the show. I hope it won't be his last.

0:04:28 > 0:04:32Everybody was standing up and cheering, and I think he felt very emotional.

0:04:38 > 0:04:42Valentino told us a story, and it still is a good story, and it's like a book.

0:04:42 > 0:04:47You read a chapter and you go on, and we want to arrive to a good ending.

0:07:34 > 0:07:38Was there ever a time, Valentino, when you didn't want to be in fashion?

0:07:38 > 0:07:41- No.- You can never remember...

0:07:41 > 0:07:45I mean, even, you never wanted to be a fireman or a...

0:07:45 > 0:07:48- No!- ..train driver or...? - No, no, no.

0:07:48 > 0:07:53I remember very well when I was young I was faking to sleep.

0:07:53 > 0:07:57- Pretending to sleep. - And I was dreaming, dreaming about

0:07:57 > 0:08:02movie star, dreaming about everything beautiful in the world.

0:08:02 > 0:08:06My mother say, "You are a dreamer, you always dream,

0:08:06 > 0:08:10"dream, dream, dream about stupid things."

0:08:12 > 0:08:15I was always so attract by magazines,

0:08:15 > 0:08:17by films.

0:08:18 > 0:08:20I had a sister. She took me for the first time

0:08:20 > 0:08:28to see some films and to meet a dream of my life, to see those beautiful lady of the silver screen.

0:08:30 > 0:08:34# Stepped out of a dream

0:08:34 > 0:08:37# You are too wonderful

0:08:37 > 0:08:40# To be what you seem. #

0:08:40 > 0:08:43I remember Ziegfeld Girl. Hedy Lamarr,

0:08:43 > 0:08:47Lana Turner, Judy Garland, Jimmy Stewart...

0:08:52 > 0:08:56You know, for me, a young guy of thirteen,

0:08:56 > 0:08:57to see this sort of beauty,

0:08:57 > 0:09:04I think, from that moment, I decide I want to create clothes for ladies.

0:10:47 > 0:10:48Buon giorno.

0:12:49 > 0:12:51Dolce Vita was very, very early.

0:12:51 > 0:12:55I mean, it was middle of the Fifties, close to the Sixties.

0:12:56 > 0:13:03And Via Veneto was the place where you stay at night and watch all those famous people pass by.

0:13:03 > 0:13:06The famous people were called Sophia Loren,

0:13:06 > 0:13:08Anita Ekberg, Elizabeth Taylor...

0:13:17 > 0:13:20I was in Rome for a very, very, very short time.

0:13:20 > 0:13:22Yes, they had seen a few pictures of me around.

0:13:28 > 0:13:33So there was a lot of publicity about this young, young designer arriving from Paris,

0:13:33 > 0:13:37opening this grand - because when Valentino start, he thought that

0:13:37 > 0:13:41fashion should be like in Paris, so a huge house,

0:13:41 > 0:13:43modern ideas from France.

0:14:05 > 0:14:12It was the 31st July 1960, and I was sitting in this table

0:14:12 > 0:14:16in a very, very crowded cafe,

0:14:16 > 0:14:18which was the Cafe de Paris, it was called.

0:14:18 > 0:14:22Suddenly, somebody came to me and say, "Are you alone?" I say yes.

0:14:22 > 0:14:26"Oh, would you mind if we sit? We are two friends here."

0:14:26 > 0:14:30He said, "I've seen your pictures in the cover of a magazine.

0:14:30 > 0:14:32"I would love to see your fashion house."

0:14:32 > 0:14:35And he came - it was my first fashion house.

0:15:08 > 0:15:09OK!

0:15:09 > 0:15:12In September, we all come back from vacation,

0:15:12 > 0:15:17and I understand that Valentino has had problems

0:15:17 > 0:15:23because the company went bankrupt, the first Valentino company.

0:15:23 > 0:15:26And that's when I arrived. But I didn't have any experience.

0:15:26 > 0:15:29I was just a student.

0:15:29 > 0:15:33But I had a little maybe better good sense than Valentino,

0:15:33 > 0:15:38I mean better understanding about three plus three makes six.

0:15:38 > 0:15:42And strange enough, the moment we met,

0:15:42 > 0:15:48the moment that we start to work together, luck change completely.

0:16:24 > 0:16:29And in '68, I did a white, white collection.

0:16:29 > 0:16:36All the magazines - Time, Life - they wrote fantastic articles about it.

0:16:36 > 0:16:41And this was my beginning, the beginning of my career with all the silver-screen movie stars.

0:18:03 > 0:18:06Uno, due, tre, quattro...

0:18:06 > 0:18:07- No.- ..e cinque.

0:18:10 > 0:18:14Uno, due, tre. Uno, due...

0:18:16 > 0:18:20Uno, due, tre e quattro.

0:18:41 > 0:18:43The computer...

0:18:43 > 0:18:46drawings that I've been doing during the years.

0:18:46 > 0:18:50And the one I wanted to use for the show.

0:18:52 > 0:18:55So, if we can do a stage, this is the background.

0:18:55 > 0:18:58In fact, what I think is going to be beautiful is the sky.

0:18:58 > 0:19:00It will be motion, it will be a film.

0:19:37 > 0:19:42This is the dress that I wake up early in the morning and I was pissed off because I didn't like

0:19:42 > 0:19:45the previous dress, and I change it for this one.

0:19:45 > 0:19:49You see? The last minute, the last minute you did a miracle

0:19:49 > 0:19:51of the collection.

0:20:59 > 0:21:02Ecco... Va bene. OK. OK, OK.

0:22:38 > 0:22:39No, no!

0:23:51 > 0:23:52We're all ready.

0:24:02 > 0:24:03Luca!

0:24:08 > 0:24:13OK! Sometimes I don't know which language I'm speaking any more!

0:24:13 > 0:24:14All strange.

0:24:21 > 0:24:23Where is Princess Rosario?

0:24:23 > 0:24:25Already in Paris. She'll meet you for lunch.

0:24:25 > 0:24:29- My groom is coming with us. - He's in the car.- When in the car?

0:24:29 > 0:24:30No, they're staying here, sir.

0:24:30 > 0:24:33- They stay here?- Yeah. You don't need anyone, do you?

0:24:33 > 0:24:35- No.- No, no, no.

0:24:36 > 0:24:38OK.

0:24:38 > 0:24:40OK, that's that part done.

0:24:48 > 0:24:51This is my partner, Matteo Marzotto.

0:24:51 > 0:24:52Of course, you met him,

0:24:52 > 0:24:55in the meeting. You know about him.

0:24:55 > 0:24:58Can you lower the music a second?

0:24:58 > 0:25:00And we get along very well.

0:25:00 > 0:25:02I make him spend a lot of money.

0:25:02 > 0:25:07- That's right. - And I'm teaching one good lesson.

0:25:07 > 0:25:10At least, at least one every day.

0:25:12 > 0:25:18I've been always tempted to sell the business to somebody who could run it with me, help me.

0:25:18 > 0:25:23The business was getting enormous, enormous, enormous, so I was always thinking, "Oh,

0:25:23 > 0:25:29"maybe I'm not good enough, I'm not rich enough, I'm not smart enough."

0:25:29 > 0:25:33So I was always thinking and listening to people who came.

0:25:33 > 0:25:35"Why don't you associate with me?

0:25:35 > 0:25:37"Why don't we buy the company?"

0:26:09 > 0:26:14I think Giancarlo understood the market and sold the company exactly at the right time.

0:26:16 > 0:26:19This is the really tough cookie, you know?

0:26:19 > 0:26:23We have had the most bloody,

0:26:23 > 0:26:26most terrible fights, me and him.

0:26:26 > 0:26:30He can be such a difficult guy

0:26:30 > 0:26:32as well as being a very sweet one.

0:26:33 > 0:26:38But I don't think Valentino would have been the same without Giancarlo,

0:26:38 > 0:26:43not even a half and not even one third of it.

0:26:43 > 0:26:46Try to think how long is this relationship,

0:26:46 > 0:26:51which is 365 days a year, 24 hours,

0:26:51 > 0:26:55since 50 years. This is unique.

0:26:55 > 0:27:02And you cannot even say it's for money, for the power, for the what?

0:27:36 > 0:27:38APPLAUSE

0:30:44 > 0:30:45No!

0:31:46 > 0:31:49Many, many years ago, when we start

0:31:49 > 0:31:52my career, we did a beautiful...

0:31:52 > 0:31:54Ah, it's too long!

0:32:09 > 0:32:15You know, I'm still amazed when Valentino arrives to the show

0:32:15 > 0:32:18and he see a set.

0:32:18 > 0:32:21Yeah, he pass by, "Oh, nice."

0:32:21 > 0:32:23"You like it?" "Yes," And goes.

0:32:23 > 0:32:26I mean, with our problems, we don't touch him.

0:32:26 > 0:32:31He doesn't realise, really, the work behind this business,

0:32:31 > 0:32:35behind a sketch of a dress.

0:33:15 > 0:33:17Mamma mia!

0:33:20 > 0:33:22So, what you would love to do?

0:33:22 > 0:33:26I'm going to do something a bit more edgy

0:33:26 > 0:33:29and big and wild and kind of Guy Bourdin-ish.

0:33:29 > 0:33:33Yeah? You don't like chignons?

0:33:33 > 0:33:38Er, I mean, I was going to try a chignon, but I was thinking something a little bit more edgy.

0:33:38 > 0:33:41I don't want a crazy girl.

0:33:41 > 0:33:47- I want beautiful but something strong also.- Yeah.

0:33:47 > 0:33:50This, you do all this little, this sort of...

0:33:50 > 0:33:55Yeah, volume, and there's kind of a softness, but it's extreme, because it's big.

0:33:55 > 0:33:57No.

0:34:00 > 0:34:02"If a fly gets in"?!

0:34:07 > 0:34:09No, no, no, no, no.

0:34:18 > 0:34:22To be with Valentino as a friend, as a lover,

0:34:22 > 0:34:27as...as an employee

0:34:27 > 0:34:30is a bit the same. You need a lot of patience.

0:36:25 > 0:36:26Buona sera.

0:37:03 > 0:37:06How are you? Happy you're here!

0:37:06 > 0:37:09Well, you know, it's every season we bite our nails, thinking,

0:37:09 > 0:37:11"Could this be the last one he's doing?

0:37:11 > 0:37:14"Because he deserves to take some time off now." But...

0:37:14 > 0:37:16We'll see. We'll see.

0:37:16 > 0:37:22I can understand when Valentino get nervous if somebody's too much asking about his future.

0:37:22 > 0:37:24Yeah, just one hour, huh?

0:37:24 > 0:37:26- We are going to make it! - One hour.- One hour!

0:37:26 > 0:37:31- One hour.- Valentino is the last couturier. He's the real thing.

0:37:31 > 0:37:35But if there will be soon a day in which he says, "I want to slow down,"

0:37:35 > 0:37:37I understand it.

0:37:37 > 0:37:44Valentino, as an icon, has to decide what to do. And only himself can decide.

0:37:44 > 0:37:48But I have to find the right...

0:37:48 > 0:37:49Valentino of the future.

0:38:39 > 0:38:43They have to go out, so don't do so many pictures.

0:38:43 > 0:38:44They have to go out first, OK?

0:39:03 > 0:39:07And go! Go! Go!

0:39:27 > 0:39:29Let's go!

0:40:11 > 0:40:12Pronto, Valentino arriva!

0:40:15 > 0:40:20Arriva Valentino, Valentino, Valentino, Valentino!

0:40:51 > 0:40:58Karl Lagerfeld was the first. I got roses last evening, with a beautiful letter, fantastic.

0:40:58 > 0:41:01And now I start to receive flower.

0:41:01 > 0:41:02And they said, "Nobody from Italy?"

0:41:02 > 0:41:06I said, "No, not yet." And now it's Giorgio Armani!

0:41:52 > 0:41:55He will never tell you -

0:41:55 > 0:42:02or tell me, especially - directly how much he care or how much he's

0:42:02 > 0:42:06grateful or how much he understand what you did for him.

0:42:14 > 0:42:16APPLAUSE

0:42:16 > 0:42:17Merci.

0:42:35 > 0:42:38Madame Gabriela Battiti,

0:42:38 > 0:42:40Madame Jardina.

0:42:40 > 0:42:42APPLAUSE

0:42:42 > 0:42:44Monsieur Brouseau.

0:42:44 > 0:42:46APPLAUSE

0:42:46 > 0:42:48Monsieur Carlo Souza.

0:42:48 > 0:42:50APPLAUSE

0:43:01 > 0:43:04APPLAUSE

0:43:17 > 0:43:19CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

0:43:25 > 0:43:27Monsieur Giancarlo Giammetti...

0:43:37 > 0:43:40APPLAUSE

0:43:53 > 0:43:56APPLAUSE

0:44:04 > 0:44:07- Everything is ready.- No, it's cold.

0:44:07 > 0:44:11- Yeah, I've ordered the heaters this afternoon, just to be on the safe side.- OK. OK.

0:44:11 > 0:44:14On the two far tables, as you see, we have had to use those chairs.

0:44:26 > 0:44:28BELLS CHIME

0:44:32 > 0:44:35- Michael!- How are you? Let's not delay. Look at this weather!

0:44:35 > 0:44:37Isn't it terrible?

0:44:37 > 0:44:40Stop all fighting over this beautiful lady.

0:44:40 > 0:44:45Tammy, we're having apple torte again, hopefully. Great!

0:44:58 > 0:45:00It's Joan Collins!

0:45:00 > 0:45:03I've seen you in the papers.

0:45:03 > 0:45:05Seen him in the papers!

0:45:05 > 0:45:07Oh, that's wonderful.

0:45:07 > 0:45:10Oh, darling, I'll have some champagne.

0:45:10 > 0:45:13Congratulations to Signor Valentino.

0:45:16 > 0:45:21We all feel that Valentino so deserves this award, as you do, too.

0:45:21 > 0:45:24Hm. I got half of it, I'm sure, I feel.

0:45:36 > 0:45:39They want to cut open...

0:45:39 > 0:45:42- We do, but not until you're in there.- No, they're asking.

0:45:42 > 0:45:45- They want to do it now, because it's very warm inside.- OK.

0:46:14 > 0:46:16My God!

0:46:16 > 0:46:19Can you bear not to be here, all year, to see it?

0:46:19 > 0:46:21When I stop working.

0:46:21 > 0:46:24Will you spend more time here? But you won't stop working.

0:46:24 > 0:46:26I don't know when. One day.

0:46:26 > 0:46:28I don't know.

0:46:28 > 0:46:32The thing is, you can't work a bit, can you? You either have to do it or not do it.

0:46:32 > 0:46:34Many collection or nothing!

0:46:34 > 0:46:36It's dangerous. People that work so hard,

0:46:36 > 0:46:39my mother, who worked very hard, I was scared when she stopped working.

0:46:39 > 0:46:41- I thought she would...- Not at all!

0:46:41 > 0:46:43- ..have a problem, but... - ..she doesn't.

0:46:43 > 0:46:46You'd just be Valentino. She's now Mrs Nayar.

0:46:46 > 0:46:51All day, is doing what she was doing without the business. But it's house, it's friends...

0:46:51 > 0:46:56When I am in a city for a little while, but I'm never more than three or four days.

0:46:56 > 0:47:01No, I know. For fifty years you've probably been doing that - running, running, running.

0:47:24 > 0:47:27It's always so rough.

0:47:27 > 0:47:31My future? I don't know, really, what's going on.

0:47:31 > 0:47:33I am a little confused.

0:47:33 > 0:47:35I live day by day.

0:47:35 > 0:47:37Bravi, bravi!

0:47:37 > 0:47:41I love to, certainly, to prepare my collection.

0:47:41 > 0:47:47But you know, I am so interested to so many other things, then it's pity

0:47:47 > 0:47:50not to have the time to take care, also.

0:47:52 > 0:47:59Of course, Valentino created a world for himself, and he wants to stay in that world.

0:48:02 > 0:48:07You have to choose between going on until the end of your life

0:48:07 > 0:48:12or until somebody tell you, you know, "We need somebody else now,"

0:48:12 > 0:48:14or you decide to go.

0:48:14 > 0:48:17Is a difficult step.

0:48:34 > 0:48:38And I'm not sure Valentino really wants to change his,

0:48:38 > 0:48:42you know, own lifestyle after so many years.

0:48:49 > 0:48:55After so many decade, after so much work, after so much freedom,

0:48:55 > 0:48:59you can imagine me accepting the Marzotto telling me,

0:48:59 > 0:49:01"No, you have not to do this, you have not to do that"?

0:49:01 > 0:49:03I would hate them!

0:49:03 > 0:49:05So...!

0:49:06 > 0:49:13Valentino is above control, Valentino is...

0:49:13 > 0:49:17above partnership, er...decisions.

0:49:17 > 0:49:19Valentino doesn't care.

0:49:19 > 0:49:22Valentino does what he wants. Valentino is Valentino.

0:50:10 > 0:50:11Valentino?

0:51:22 > 0:51:26You know, the Ara Pacis, this modern museum in the centre of Rome...

0:51:31 > 0:51:33I say, "Well, let me go inside."

0:51:33 > 0:51:39So I went inside, I did a six step and I call Daniella, and I say,

0:51:39 > 0:51:41"Daniella, move everything to Rome.

0:51:41 > 0:51:45"I've found the place where to do the retrospective is Rome."

0:51:45 > 0:51:49And then we start all over again in Rome.

0:52:18 > 0:52:21- Ciao, ciao.- Ciao!- Ciao.

0:52:21 > 0:52:23Vale!

0:52:23 > 0:52:25Uno, due, tre...

0:52:25 > 0:52:27ALL: Valentino!

0:52:27 > 0:52:30(CHANTING) Valentino! Valentino!

0:52:34 > 0:52:39For me, this part has to have a lot of dresses in,

0:52:39 > 0:52:42otherwise, really, we are in trouble with Valentino.

0:52:42 > 0:52:45He tell everybody there will be 300 dresses.

0:52:45 > 0:52:48I cannot tell him now it will be 220, 230.

0:52:48 > 0:52:52If you're saying there's magic number, it's 300 and that's what it has to be,

0:52:52 > 0:52:55then we have to find a way of dealing with this.

0:52:56 > 0:52:59- Valentina, Antonio.- Hello!

0:52:59 > 0:53:01- How are you?- Hamish. How do you do?

0:53:01 > 0:53:04Oh, my God, I can't believe it...

0:53:10 > 0:53:11- Did you see this?- Yeah.

0:53:13 > 0:53:15So, this is the idea.

0:53:15 > 0:53:18He will arrive here and he will see all the scene.

0:53:18 > 0:53:21We have to choose one amazing gown for here.

0:53:21 > 0:53:25Like a super-iconic thing, like the Julia Roberts thing or something.

0:53:28 > 0:53:35Being back in my city, because it's 45 years of my career, I am trying to put together

0:53:35 > 0:53:40a show extremely haute couture, a very, very important collection.

0:53:52 > 0:53:54- But anyway, this is a much better room.- OK!

0:54:05 > 0:54:09- A-ha.- I don't feel comfortable. The entrance is very sad.

0:54:09 > 0:54:11But it is going to change.

0:54:11 > 0:54:16No, but, you know, you have walls, and they are higher than this room. They are so dirty.

0:54:16 > 0:54:21You know, but because you have never been to the bazaar in Paris.

0:54:21 > 0:54:23It is dirty, disgusting when you get there.

0:54:23 > 0:54:26We do couture there.

0:54:26 > 0:54:30You have never been in a place, before we do the solution.

0:54:30 > 0:54:32Don't worry. Trust me.

0:54:32 > 0:54:35One spends one's whole life dealing with something that is not

0:54:35 > 0:54:40working and turning it into something that is working. That is what we do.

0:54:40 > 0:54:43And you will have your 300 dresses in the Ara Pacis.

0:54:43 > 0:54:47I'll have 300 dresses. You still like the Ara Pacis?

0:54:47 > 0:54:51I like what is happening to the Ara Pacis,

0:54:51 > 0:54:54and I like where we're going. I think it's going to be...

0:54:54 > 0:54:58No, but you know, I never liked the Ara Pacis.

0:54:58 > 0:55:00Those little...

0:55:00 > 0:55:04stairs, they go down with all these little things.

0:55:04 > 0:55:07You look like you are at Macy's.

0:55:07 > 0:55:09Eh?

0:55:09 > 0:55:12He hate the rails.

0:55:12 > 0:55:15Well, we don't want to have nasty rails.

0:55:47 > 0:55:54Valentino fashion where he gets in fantasy and he mix Russia with China.

0:55:54 > 0:56:00That what I want to explain to our guests, something of the fantasy of a couturier.

0:56:02 > 0:56:08For the other night, we have this amazing location, where only the Pope can go once a year.

0:56:08 > 0:56:11We are thinking more open-air nightclub.

0:56:11 > 0:56:14It's like a big party.

0:56:14 > 0:56:17- This is where we're going to put the columns, here.- Ah, OK.

0:56:17 > 0:56:20These are fibreglass, and they're going to change lighting?

0:56:20 > 0:56:23Where did you decide to put the bathrooms?

0:58:44 > 0:58:46He doesn't like very much!

0:58:47 > 0:58:51Michael, can you call at home Mr Giammetti to see if he's there?

0:58:52 > 0:58:54Allo?

0:58:54 > 0:58:55Ciao, Giancarlo.

0:59:01 > 0:59:03Why you don't come here for one day,

0:59:03 > 0:59:05I mean, to stay with us?

0:59:05 > 0:59:07No? Would be nice.

0:59:07 > 0:59:09OK, ciao.

0:59:09 > 0:59:12No, because the two of us speak French most of the time.

0:59:12 > 0:59:16When I arrive from France, for me, it was really my second language,

0:59:16 > 0:59:19and I was much too used to speak French.

0:59:19 > 0:59:26So I teach him the French language, and after, I always direct him...

0:59:26 > 0:59:28direct myself to him in French.

0:59:41 > 0:59:46I am a special case, because we went for so long.

0:59:46 > 0:59:49In our case, is probably a mile ago!

0:59:49 > 0:59:54Because I've never seen two people so close for so many years

0:59:54 > 0:59:58not being married.

0:59:58 > 1:00:01You understand that I've seen Valentino

1:00:01 > 1:00:04almost every day in my life, except maybe...

1:00:04 > 1:00:08in 45 years at the total, two months.

1:00:12 > 1:00:18- Valentino is an Italian dress designer whose name is known around the world...- Two cam, left slowly...

1:00:19 > 1:00:24In the Seventies and the Eighties, Valentino and I work very hard to grow the company,

1:00:24 > 1:00:29and the company became thirty, forty times larger.

1:00:49 > 1:00:51Today, there is another language, which is money.

1:00:54 > 1:00:59There's been a lot of news about needing more handbags, more belts

1:00:59 > 1:01:05and more fragrances and all the things that are really making most fashion houses all the money.

1:01:05 > 1:01:08The runway shows, the couture shows, they don't make money.

1:01:08 > 1:01:11Those are the image things that get the name out there.

1:01:11 > 1:01:16Then it's all the other accessories that really bring it all in.

1:01:16 > 1:01:21You know, we are from north-east of Italy, so we have to take care of figures, not only style.

1:01:21 > 1:01:29Today's designer has more a manager attitude than pure creativity.

1:01:29 > 1:01:33One of our needs is being on the market and looking around

1:01:33 > 1:01:38and try to have an idea what is "on the next", let's say.

1:01:39 > 1:01:42I've been looking at designers since many, many years.

1:01:42 > 1:01:49Almost immediately after we sold the company in 1998, I knew that one day Valentino will decide to stop.

1:01:49 > 1:01:53You know, Matteo can say anything he wants,

1:01:53 > 1:01:56Matteo has no power in this company.

1:01:56 > 1:02:01He's a young guy, he's very simpatico, I like him as a friend.

1:02:01 > 1:02:03But whatever he says

1:02:03 > 1:02:06has no value to me.

1:02:33 > 1:02:35No, no, no, no.

1:02:43 > 1:02:48This is Euronews, with the news on the hour.

1:02:48 > 1:02:53Almost 30% of the Valentino fashion group, founded by 75-year-old Valentino Garavani,

1:02:53 > 1:02:58has been purchased by private-equity firm Permira for 782 million euros.

1:02:58 > 1:03:01Of course, the luxury sector, as well as the fashion sector, could be affected.

1:03:01 > 1:03:05The shares were sold by members of Italy's Marzotto family.

1:03:05 > 1:03:09It's now the largest investor and is looking to buy a larger stake.

1:03:09 > 1:03:15Despite the buy-out, Matteo Marzotto will be remaining as chairman of Valentino.

1:03:18 > 1:03:24I think that is something that would be very fast, with a tender offer.

1:03:24 > 1:03:29And we are expecting that in one to two months,

1:03:29 > 1:03:36the Permira Group would be really in charge of everything

1:03:36 > 1:03:39and will control the majority of the company.

1:03:41 > 1:03:47Fashion's such a huge business now, and investment bankers are really determining the future of this.

1:03:47 > 1:03:50And Valentino wasn't consulted on any of these developments

1:03:50 > 1:03:52about the sale of the company.

1:03:53 > 1:03:57Valentino has a contract through July, as I understand it,

1:03:57 > 1:04:00which possibly could be renewed and is likely not to be.

1:04:00 > 1:04:05If I were he, I would say, "Take me out, but only feet-first."

1:04:05 > 1:04:11It's possible that this company could make the mistake and take it the way of,

1:04:11 > 1:04:14you know, Halston in the past

1:04:14 > 1:04:19or Cardin, which is belt buckles and duty-free handbags...

1:04:19 > 1:04:21and crapola.

1:04:21 > 1:04:25We are in a position to wait and see.

1:04:25 > 1:04:32We are sure that if somebody buy for such a huge amount of money, they don't want to destroy

1:04:32 > 1:04:38that, kind of, special product that Valentino give all his life.

1:04:38 > 1:04:40But it doesn't mean you're going to retire?

1:04:40 > 1:04:43- No.- Those rumours said that...

1:04:43 > 1:04:46But rumours, they say so many thing.

1:04:46 > 1:04:51This was the best thing for me, to design and create dresses.

1:04:51 > 1:04:55I always did this. I am not capable to do anything else.

1:04:55 > 1:04:57I am a disaster in everything else.

1:05:29 > 1:05:34My first suit, embroidered suit.

1:05:34 > 1:05:35'60.

1:05:35 > 1:05:38- This is '66.- This was Audrey Hepburn.

1:05:38 > 1:05:40- Right.- This was Audrey.

1:05:40 > 1:05:42- Fantastic.- I did for her.

1:05:43 > 1:05:47So what we've tried to do is also get quite a lot of early things...

1:05:47 > 1:05:49- Anne Bass.- Yeah.

1:05:53 > 1:05:59To do those embroidery today, you need to sell Italian Bank.

1:05:59 > 1:06:01I know, look at the quality.

1:06:01 > 1:06:03It's incredible.

1:06:03 > 1:06:05Yes.

1:06:08 > 1:06:10So many things I did.

1:06:20 > 1:06:23This is Jackie, yes?

1:06:23 > 1:06:26Yes, this. If I have to flashback

1:06:26 > 1:06:29all those past decades,

1:06:29 > 1:06:33they were so, so, so...

1:06:33 > 1:06:36like yesterday.

1:06:36 > 1:06:42- Mm.- But time, you become older and older and older and not realise!

1:07:35 > 1:07:37Not for the moment, no.

1:07:37 > 1:07:39- Not for the moment. - Not for the moment.- OK.

1:07:39 > 1:07:43Because people ask why 45th year anniversary is a big deal, why not...

1:07:43 > 1:07:47That means that if you see me today, like I am, it's 45.

1:07:47 > 1:07:52I can go on till 50, 60, I don't know. Forever, OK?

1:08:41 > 1:08:44We've been fighting really bad wars

1:08:44 > 1:08:49and with a vein like this on the neck, really high pressure.

1:08:49 > 1:08:51Now he's trying to say something.

1:08:51 > 1:08:53It's like an old lion, you know?

1:08:53 > 1:08:56He try to roar like this, but there is no voice.

1:09:03 > 1:09:06I never thought this was the way to do business.

1:09:06 > 1:09:09I always did business because I want those clothes to be on women,

1:09:09 > 1:09:14on men, for Valentino to be famous, to be happy.

1:10:15 > 1:10:18So, it's been a long work, this, no?

1:10:18 > 1:10:19It has been one year work.

1:10:19 > 1:10:22And he's very excited, I guess, Valentino?

1:10:22 > 1:10:24Yeah. He seems so.

1:10:24 > 1:10:30I try, as always, to give to him a nice part of the event and to keep all the problem for myself.

1:10:50 > 1:10:55According to the Wall Street Journal, the fate of Valentino is now in the hands of financiers

1:10:55 > 1:11:00and it's unclear whether Valentino would stay on, under a new owner.

1:11:00 > 1:11:04Alessandra Facchinetti, who replaced Tom Ford as Gucci's woman's wear designer,

1:11:04 > 1:11:06is the front runner to succeed Valentino, should he retire

1:11:06 > 1:11:09later this summer. This, according to Women's Wear Daily.

1:11:09 > 1:11:12It would be very much the end of an era, for many reasons.

1:11:12 > 1:11:17There's no-one who can replace or succeed Valentino. If you weren't learning about couture

1:11:17 > 1:11:24in the 1950s from people who learned the craft in the 1920s, you're not going to get any more information.

1:11:24 > 1:11:30Valentino will celebrate his 45th anniversary in the biz with a couture show in Rome, on July 6th.

1:11:30 > 1:11:34Many believe the bash is a sign that Valentino will retire soon.

1:11:34 > 1:11:37Valentino has denied those reports.

1:11:47 > 1:11:49They will have shoes, all of them?

1:11:49 > 1:11:51Yes.

1:11:51 > 1:11:54- "Yes." You're not sure. - No, no, for sure.

1:11:54 > 1:11:55We've been painting the...

1:13:00 > 1:13:05I am here to decide something very important, and I don't want to be filmed! I'm sorry.

1:13:05 > 1:13:08OK? Otherwise I go.

1:13:08 > 1:13:09And I go. Bye-bye.

1:13:10 > 1:13:12No, no, no, no, no.

1:14:44 > 1:14:46James Brown!

1:15:06 > 1:15:09Checking up in the room. In each hotel is going to be a room,

1:15:09 > 1:15:13a suite, with hairdresser, manicurist and make-up.

1:15:17 > 1:15:19E piu belli bambini al mondo!

1:15:55 > 1:15:57Didn't even call me to say, "Welcome to Rome".

1:15:57 > 1:16:00- You don't know what is the morning, this morning...- Buon giorno!

1:16:00 > 1:16:02Grazie! Beautiful!

1:16:02 > 1:16:04- Extraordinary. - Just a little number here.

1:16:04 > 1:16:07Oh, my God! Fabulous!

1:16:07 > 1:16:10My first couture, Valentino. It's better late than never!

1:16:10 > 1:16:13Oh, it's so extraordinary! And it's so Valentino.

1:16:15 > 1:16:17That's all you have to do, honey.

1:16:17 > 1:16:20You should've made me one for every hour.

1:16:20 > 1:16:23Oh, my God! I cannot even tell you!

1:16:23 > 1:16:25Grazie, grazie, grazie!

1:16:25 > 1:16:28- It's a little bit long. - It's a little bit long? Hem it up.

1:16:28 > 1:16:30She's a lot of work.

1:16:47 > 1:16:50We're in Rome, where the fashion world has congregated

1:16:50 > 1:16:55for the festivities surrounding the 45th anniversary celebration of Valentino.

1:16:55 > 1:16:58We'll bring you complete coverage of this extraordinary weekend

1:16:58 > 1:17:01on an upcoming episode of Fashion Television.

1:17:28 > 1:17:31Being in Rome, it's so hot and steamy and romantic!

1:17:31 > 1:17:33Uma, can we have a quick comment?

1:17:33 > 1:17:35- Is that Valentino?- Yes, it is.

1:17:35 > 1:17:38She's wearing Valentino as well. Couture. Get me with Jennifer!

1:17:41 > 1:17:42I have no idea!

1:18:00 > 1:18:02How amazing!

1:18:14 > 1:18:19Today, we are here to celebrate with our friends, our colleagues

1:18:19 > 1:18:22this amazing career for my dear friend, Valentino.

1:18:22 > 1:18:25And he still design the same way.

1:18:25 > 1:18:31Fame and fortune didn't change him, he's still the same little guy I met 45 years ago.

1:18:55 > 1:18:56Antonio!

1:18:59 > 1:19:01APPLAUSE

1:20:00 > 1:20:03Congratulations. I can't believe it!

1:20:27 > 1:20:28Hi. Hi.

1:20:30 > 1:20:32- Congratulations.- Thank you.

1:20:32 > 1:20:34Thank you.

1:21:17 > 1:21:19Si, si.

1:21:48 > 1:21:51OK, OK!

1:21:54 > 1:21:58APPLAUSE

1:21:58 > 1:22:02Be strong, sophisticated, very feminine

1:22:02 > 1:22:04and show what is haute couture.

1:22:04 > 1:22:08Everybody's here. Et un, deux, trois, music!

1:22:09 > 1:22:12- Go.- Wow!

1:22:13 > 1:22:17OK. Oh, my God, she's still standing!

1:22:22 > 1:22:25The pace has to be very strong and fast.

1:22:53 > 1:22:55Katerina!

1:22:58 > 1:23:01Go, go, go!

1:23:08 > 1:23:11No, it's already going... No, she's not ready!

1:23:18 > 1:23:19Go!

1:23:26 > 1:23:27Powder, here.

1:23:32 > 1:23:34Mariella?

1:23:40 > 1:23:43Valentino! Arriva Valentino!

1:23:43 > 1:23:46RAPTUROUS APPLAUSE

1:23:46 > 1:23:51MUSIC: "O Mio Babbino Caro" by Giacomo Puccini

1:24:55 > 1:24:57Let's get you two together for a shot.

1:24:57 > 1:25:01Every dress, every girl, every movement of her feather or ruffle.

1:25:01 > 1:25:03But there's so much restraint and exuberance.

1:25:03 > 1:25:05That pink thing that, like...

1:25:05 > 1:25:07it's just a breakthrough moment here.

1:25:07 > 1:25:10Triumph of the will.

1:25:10 > 1:25:12Triumph of the will!

1:25:12 > 1:25:15The will to continue to be.

1:25:24 > 1:25:26You're just beginning. You're just beginning over!

1:25:26 > 1:25:28Your career is just beginning.

1:25:28 > 1:25:30You are a little guy about to begin!

1:25:30 > 1:25:32I begin in my career...

1:25:32 > 1:25:35You're beginning your career again. Today!

1:25:39 > 1:25:42MUSIC: "O Mio Babbino Caro" by Giacomo Puccini

1:26:06 > 1:26:12The world today, the world of fashion today, is very, very, very different.

1:26:12 > 1:26:15If there is a reason for Valentino to stop one day,

1:26:15 > 1:26:19that's the reason, that it is not a world made for him.

1:26:28 > 1:26:33And Valentino will be the last one of that generation, of a big name

1:26:33 > 1:26:36that has still his name on his company,

1:26:36 > 1:26:41who will define the difference between yesterday and today.

1:26:53 > 1:26:56A lot of people will say no-one can replace you.

1:26:56 > 1:26:58Hm...

1:27:00 > 1:27:01You know what means?

1:27:16 > 1:27:18APPLAUSE

1:28:43 > 1:28:46Subtitles for the deaf and hard-of-hearing by Red Bee Media Ltd

1:28:46 > 1:28:49E-mail subtitling@bbc.co.uk