Valentino brings 50 years of couture to London

Iconic fashion designer Valentino was in London Wednesday to launch a huge retrospective exhibition, which brings his entire couture archive to the UK.

With a career spanning five decades, the exhibition at London's Somerset House showcases more than 130 couture Valentino designs worn by the likes of Jackie Kennedy Onassis, Audrey Hepburn, Anne Hathaway and Julia Roberts.

The display was put together by design team Kinmonth Monfreda - long time Valentino collaborators.

Valentino, who was joined by his long time partner Giancarlo Giammetti, said he was delighted with the exhibition.

"I feel very happy. I feel like the first day when I came and saw the dresses, of course I know the dresses by heart, but when I saw the clothes all placed like this, seated, as a spectator I was extremely happy," he said. "When people come here for the first time, I think they'll have beautiful things to see."

Among the items on display are a red taffeta dress worn by actress Anne Hathaway to the 2011 Oscars and a cream organza evening gown worn by Audrey Hepburn.

However, Valentino's favorite dress of all time is the one he designed for Jackie Kennedy's wedding to Aristotle Onasis.

A close second is Julia Roberts' black velvet and tulle gown with white ribbon detailing, which she wore when she won her Best Actress Oscar in 2001.

The exhibition may showcase 50 years of his work, but Valentino said he remembers designing the gowns as if it was yesterday.

"It's a long long way (time), but it's like the first day I saw those clothes. To me they don't look so old, you understand, because many many of them they look like I've finished them last evening," he said, also referring to how timeless his designs are.

The 'Valentino: Master of Couture' exhibition opens to the public on Thursday and will run until 3 March 2013.