T
he cult of personality is our theme this month, with added continental flair. We have two It Girls, one French and one Austrian (although she would go on to rule France), one fashion designer whose business was the dressing of European aristocrats at play, and a Parisian photographer who was able to capture that most ephemeral of qualities — charisma.
Marie Antoinette, Brigitte Bardot, Valentino Garavani and Patrick Demarchelier were all experts in the art of living well (Bardot, who is now 90, remains an expert). Marie Antoinette had a passion for fine fabrics, jewels and excellent patisserie, Bardot revels in her picturesque Cote D’Azur retreat, her Riva boat and her beloved animals, Valentino’s many homes were as beautiful and refined as his couture designs. They also all understood the power of the personal brand — Demarchelier in particular, who recognised that beauty is not identikit, it is about individual character; and what makes his work so compelling is that his images reveal the personality behind the image.
Ideally we would invite these four for dinner. They would be demanding guests, but it would be quite the event. Instead, we must make do with these inspiring tomes.
Valentino: A Grand Italian Epic
