When you were a child, did your mother repeatedly tell you to "Don't touch, look with your eyes"? I hear it at the markets all the time. On Friday night when I went to see the Valentino Retrospective, that little voice was in the back of my head as I resisted the urge to run my fingers through the layers of sumptuous fabrics and feathers in the fashions on display.
The layers and detailing were the first things that really hit me at the exhibition. I was fascinated by silks that were first woven and then draped. By feathers and and lace combined to create a "tattoo dress". But mostly, I was amazed at the way the textiles had been used to create wearable sculptures. I'm sure I wasn't the only woman there choosing the dress I would wear for my own red carpet experience.
My cousin and I chose to view this exhibition at Brisbane's Gallery of Modern Art during one of their "Up Late" sessions. And if you have a chance, this is the way I'd highly recommend to see it. It was a lot of fun getting dolled up; me in a red dress and red lipstick, but many others in fabulous cocktail dresses, so the exhibition soon became a sense of occasion. And what better way to take a break from viewing than with a glass or two of bubbly at the bar open especially for the evening.
