valentino

on my last day in Brisbane i had the opportunity see the Valentino retrospective
at GOMA [Gallery of Modern Art]
photography absolutely verboten
images below thanks to the Brisbane Times

there was a lot to see
and much to marvel at, however i found myself wondering how the wearers of these clothes
ever sat down, or travelled in a car or
heaven forbid
answered a call of nature

i overheard a number of people expressing disappointment
that Mr Valentino had not travelled to Brisbane for the opening of the show
however
after viewing the video at the exhibition
showing the Great Man slinging a relatively detail-free sketch
that hinted at a red gown
with swishy bits
at his white-coated seamstresses
and then criticising their valiant efforts
[as one of them said, creating pleats on the bias is NOT an easy task]
while a nearly-naked model
was treated like an expendable piece of meat
and his gushing sycophant aides purred
"it's SOOO Valentino"

i would MUCH rather
they'd sent the seamstresses out for the opening
after all
they were the ones creating the garments
and making them look fabulous
ok
enough. think i'll go and pour myself another saucer of cream.