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Valentino managed not to cry as he took his final walk down the runway of a custom made white tent in the garden of the Rodin Museum. Not so his audience, which gave him a five-minute, tear-stained standing ovation after presenting his spring 2008 collection, bringing to a close a 45-year career.

With Uma Thurman and Lucy Liu sitting either side of Valentino's longtime partner Giancarlo Giammetti, the couturier reminded us why one of his nicknames was Le Chic, by sending out 74 looks that captured his unique sense of opulent elegance.

Made largely in black and white, the collection starred Sir Val's beautifully crisp suits, with collars and pockets edged in crystal, ravishingly elegant cocktails in silk twill with flowers embroidered Art Nouveaux style and a fantastic black va va vroom chiffon dress with organza fringes worn by Russian uber model Natalia Vodianova.