"Valentino: At the Emperor's Table" is a visually spectacular book but one that nonetheless disappoints. On the one hand, its size, weight, and price make it difficult to handle and acquire. On the other, the fabulous photos of Valentino's superb possessions and sense of style are by no means matched by the text that opens the book. Andre Leon Talley's introduction is at best a pleasant piece of fluff that provides no background explanation of how Valentino rose from obscurity to the heights of haute couture, developed his exquisite taste, and acquired his stunning collection of tableware and interior decor. In sum, it seems that Assouline, normally a top-drawer publisher, failed to invest adequate time and editorial resources into underwriting a more probing examination of Valentino's lifestyle, which is indeed an ode to beauty
The emperor not only of fashion but also of l’art de vivre, Valentino Garavani is in a class all his own. At the Emperor’s Table is an invitation into his refined world of graceful and cultured living. The remarkable collection of table settings and objets d’art housed in his five residences, in Gstaad, London, Rome, New York, and Paris, as well as on his yacht, evoke the grandeur in which he lives and are presented in this first-ever edition with photographs by Oberto Gili. Recipes by Mr. Garavani’s personal chefs are also included and bring readers one step closer to discovering his extraordinary surroundings.
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