Icon of fashion, Valentino Garavani, has often been recognized for his endless contributions to the fashion industry. Now his 45 year career has come to the big screen… in Washington, DC!Ladies in layers of chiffon, sequins, lace and diamond embroidery rushed Bethesda Row Cinemas last Thursday for the premier of his documentary “Valentino: The Last Emperor.” Both area fashionistas and documentary lovers alike laughed in almost every scene captured by Director Matt Tyrnauer of this unconventional yet glamorous love story. The variety of humor in the film ranged from highlights of Valentino’s six pugs – Milton, Monty, Maude, Margot, Maggie and Molly -to Valentino’s reference to models; He only wanted the tall ones! “Lets not hire any midgets…” 
A lingering applause led to an open Q&A with Tyrnauer moderated by Jill Hudson Neal, Fashion Editor of the Washingtonian, taking viewers behind the scenes to learn the dynamics of the relationships in the film and celebrating almost 50 years of fashion and the end of an era for the icon.
*Victoria Sanders contributed to this post.
