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There was something of Paris and Milan in the air over the city on Tuesday night, as the latest collection by Italian designer Valentino kicked off Dubai Fashion 2007 in style.
The event was the first of four exclusive catwalk shows, which, alongside collections by local designers, aim to cement Dubai's reputation as the fashion capital of the region.
Hundreds of people packed a cavernous ballroom at the Madinat Jumeirah, where over the next few nights similar events will take place, featuring some of the world's most illustrious fashion names: Christian Lacroix, Sonia Rykiel, Kenzo and Emanuel Ungaro.
The first night, however, belonged to Valentino (although the designer was not present, undoubtedly working on his haute couture collection which will show in Paris later this month).
The Italian couturier was selected by the organisers, DSF and BurJuman, to open the four-day event because the glamour his clothes exude is perfectly in keeping with Dubai's style.
"Valentino is a premium brand and unique in his glamourous designs. That's why we wanted him to be the first to show, and also to show alone," said Sabina Khandwani, head of PR and marketing, BurJuman.
The other designers will show in pairs over the next two nights, and the week culminates in a ladies-only gala show with highlights from the week.
Hundreds of Dubai's best-dressed gathered at the Madinat Jumeirah on Tuesday night to see the opening night of Dubai Fashion 2007, the first of four catwalk shows brought to the city by DSF and BurJuman.
In the sparkling Johara ballroom, the great and good of the Dubai style scene met to chat and mingle at the pre-show cocktail party. But amid all the chatter, it was clear that there was only one name on everybody's lips: Valentino.
Signature colours
Finally the crowd was ushered into the ballroom, the walls of which had been covered with gigantic, curving white screens, onto which were projected swirling designs in red and white, which coincidentally, happen to be Valentino's signature colours.
Modern fans of the Italian designer will surely know his Valentino Red diffusion line, while those who prefer to look back to the late '60s will recall his career-making Collezione Bianca — the White Collection.
These days, Valentino can still be counted upon to produce elegant, body conscious pieces in a restrained palette of whites, oyster pinks, serene blues and bucolic yellows.
Show-stoppers
And of course, we can expect show-stopping gowns, in that shade of scarlet that spells Valentino.
So it was only natural that the first models down the runway, which wound its way around the massed fashion crowd, were in red dresses.
Each model, in fact, was accessoried with hot red lips and a double headband in crimson satin, holding for dear life onto the large, wobbly, beehive hairdos.
The polished ensembles consisted of satin shorts with ribbon belts teamed with cropped jackets or gathered silk tunics, deftly pleated.
Dresses for success
The dresses of tulle and satin ribbon, either hitting the knee or gracefully long and full, looked like the perfect foundation with which to carry off a large hat, for any ladies wishing to break out of the mould at the coming Dubai World Cup.
There were occasional nods to ongoing trends, in the platform sandals and in the voluminous cape-coats, gathered at the nape of the neck, layered over miniscule shorts.
The crowd was also given a rare treat — a look at fashion's magical laboratory: haute couture.
Valentino has shown an haute couture line in Paris since 1989, and remains one of the few designers who still show these collections of handworked, exquisite pieces.
The music changed from a punchy beat to an entrancing fairytale, and the models became living dolls, who awoke under the touch of pale gold satin, brocade skirts, pleats and lace.
Did you know?
Valentino Garavani became aware of his talent for fashion while still in high school, and moved to Paris at the age of 17 to pursue his dream.
While in Paris, he studied fashion and was an apprentice to Jean Desses and Guy Laroche.
At the beginning of the 1960s, he began working on his own line, and met his business partner Giancarlo Giametti, who was instrumental in making the Valentino label profitable.
Valentino's first success was at the Pitti Palace in Florence, where in 1962, he showed his first collection, to much acclaim.
In 1968, Valentino launched his Collezione Bianca (White Collection), where the famous "V" logo appears.
In the same year, he designed Jackie Kennedy's gown for her wedding to Aristotle Onassis.
In 1970, Valentino added ready to wear to his repertoire, opening boutiques in Rome and New York.
Stores in Tokyo and Paris followed.
In 1989, he showed his haute couture collection in Paris for the first time. He is now one of the few remaining designers to show during the haute couture collections.
In 1990, Valentino and Giancarlo Giammetti created the L.I.F.E foundation, an association working in the fight against Aids.
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