Just added to the Couture Allure website is this stunning Valentino 2-piece evening ensemble from the Spring/Summer 1989 collection. This set was featured in the book "Valentino: 30 Years of Magic", published by Rizzoli in 1992. An identical ensemble was also featured in the exhibit "Nan Kempner: American Chic" which was on display at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York from December 2006 - March 2007 and at the Legion of Honor in San Francisco from June - November 2007. Kempner owned and wore the same set.
As stated in the Valentino book, this design was inspired by a 16th century wooden stool inlaid with tortoiseshell and mother-of-pearl. Valentino was known to be inspired often by medieval art.
You'll see the set on the runway in this video at 1:11. Look at the movement of that skirt!
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