By Lia Parsley

Remember how you felt watching Sofia Coppola’s Marie Antoinette : the over-the-top indulgence, the expertly-crafted clothing, the gorgeous displays of pastel-coloured pastries? Valentino: The Last Emperor makes you feel quite girlishly the same – minus the trans fats.

In a time where haute couture is more taboo a topic than any other, this new documentary chronicling the final days of the fashion legend’s career somehow manages to transcend the “faux-pas” nature of its subject matter.

Rest assured: fashion addicts the world over will go insane for this doc. Apart from the incredible eye-feast, the film is at times very touching as it follows Valentino and his friend/partner/lover/employee, Giancarlo Giammetti, as they not-so-discreetly wrap up the couturier’s illustrious 45-year career.

The biggest reason fashionphiles will swoon for V: TLE, however, is that eye-feast, the up-close look at his operation: The craftsmanship, the (exclusively) hand-sewn collections, the frantic seamstresses, the beading, the timeless pieces created for the world’s women of significance, the nostalgia, the passion and dedication Valentino maintained for creating the very best.

On the whole, the luxury presented by this film is a welcome and frivolous departure to the budget-crunching we’ve been so consumed and bombarded with since the “r-word” became the most topical subject since, well, now the passing of Michael Jackson.

Valentino: The Last Emperor opens Friday, July 10th at various cinemas across the city. Get a good look at the dying art form of haute couturism while you can – worth it for both the fashion and the eccentric personalities that create it!