In the gilded world of fashion, there are designers and there are couturiers.

But that isn’t all, as apparently there is also an emperor: Mr Valentino Garavani.

100% Italian, 100% pure genius and an icon of fashion, he is now the protagonist, subject and soul of Matt Tyrnauer’s Valentino: The Last Emperor, which premiered today at the 65th Venice Film Festival.

I’m sure that all you fashionistas well know that The Man, after 45 years of work, wonderful gowns and success has now retired, leaving the burden of his role and position to the young (but very bright) Alessandra Facchinetti.

Tyrnauer’s precious documentary is a tribute not only to Valentino’s final years at his maison, but also to his art, materials, ideas, colours and creations, revealing glimpses of his attitudes towards fashion, friendship and women–whether they be stars, muses, models or friends.

Melt all this with the parterre of VIPs that rigorously attend his global defilées (Anna Wintour, Gwyneth Paltrow, Karl Lagerfeld, Anne Hathaway among others), and you might get a tiny idea of what it feels to be a king – “I want everyone to be at my feet”, he once said to his friend and partner Giancarlo Giammetti, fully conscious of who he was and how he should be treated,

And, being the emperor of couture, Valentino surely deserves a-one-of-a-kind lady at his side.

This was the case as the fancy sneak preview held this morning at the utterly chic Sala Grande with the presence of the gorgeous Eva Herzigova: tall, slim, ultra blonde and über classy, wearing a little feathered black dress (by Valentino, ça va sans dire), pink stilettos and white Ray Ban Wayfarers.

Pure beauty, wearing pure beauty – can we really ask for more?

According to Valentino we can’t, as what women want is only to be beautiful.

And this can easily be achieved by just adding an ounce of his handmade and unique creations that are made from pure dreams.

Image courtesy of Cineblog.it