Valentino Exhibition In London: RESCU's Sneak Peek

If you're in London this November and have a hankering for couture and celebrity fashion, head to Somerset House.

The venue is hosting a retrospective, Valentino: Master Of Couture, featuring over 130 gowns from the designer's archives and the private collections of couture buyers.

Valentino retired almost five years ago, but his influence is still widely felt on the couture scene and on the red carpet.

The exhibition will feature some of the designer's most famous creations, including the Valentino in which Julia Roberts won her Oscar, Jackie Kennedy Onassis's wedding gown, and creations for Sophia Loren and Grace Kelly.

The fashion retrospective has become a big-ticket item over the past few years. The retrospective of the late Alexander McQueen's work in New York smashed records and resulted in round-the-block queues.

Many designers, including Armani, are in discussions to create permanent museums or public archives of their work, rather than one-off shows.

It's a far cry from the days when couture was decidedly out of reach to the public.

Punters in London will be able to see the workmanship on the Valentino gowns, possibly with a commentary from the man himself and from artisans.

Afterwards the exhibition may travel to other regions. Would you catch a glimpse of Valentino's work if you were in London?

Image: Valentino couture design, with the man himself.