SOLIDQUALITY

As Roger continues to win/almost win all the majors, he is showing signs that the ride is almost over. How can I tell? The decided up tick in the branding of Roger and his apparel.

Lacoste and Perry before him, Roger has learned that the branding is best started while you are on top. The ‘RF’ is huge on the clothing and why not his is by far the biggest thing to hit tennis since…since…Sampras. Pete didn’t really have a personality. Roger not so much either, but there is a certain coolness that comes across the court but now in his clothes.

The logo, I think is quite nice. It has an air of familiarity while staying modern. A modern traditionalist if you will. Almost as if he is trying to class up tennis after years of Agassi and over grunting teenage girl players. A sense of class and luxury/wealth. For the longest time tennis meant wealth. Gold trim and details being that sense of luxury to the clothes as well as signaling the gold standard of a true champion.

NYTimes has a good article on this topic here. Forgive me if my post sounds like the Times piece. I had actually thought about posting about it before the Times, but alas they are pretty savvy people there.

Last night I saw the documentary Valentino: The Last Emperor at the Film Forum in NYC. And they had the director there with an editor from Vanity Fair do a little Q&A afterwards. Overall it was a great experience.

The movie gave a really great insight into one of the last iconic fashion brands and men as they were exiting the fashion industry. As a sign of the times, with hedge funds buying and ruining businesses, the film showed how critical the original creative force behind something as fantastic as Valentino. is crucial to the continued success. Its not to say the Valentino brand is dead as a business. But when he was involved and running the show , it was precisely just that, a show. More than a business, a grand show that made folks appreciate life, but especially the finest things of life. And as one result, a successful business occurred as well.  He created art for the world and we supported him. Perhaps you didn’t even feel like you were being sold something, rather acquiring some of the energy that made him reign for 45 years.

The other touching part was that Valentino’s lifelong partner was essential to his long success and frankly Valentino would not have been around for this long if it wasn’t for Giancarlo Giammetti.

So I say watch the movie. It was good film making, but it is easy when you have such characters as Valentino and Giammetti, set in the backdrop of awe inspiring fashion for the last 45 years.

I also wanted to say a quick note about being a master at something. There are scenes int he movie where you see Valentino sketching and he was so quick. And from sketch he grabbed the fabric and it seemed in a matter of minutes he had a masterpiece. Amazing that after all these years his creativity is still so bright.

And finally I have to shout out his seamstresses. They would make these amazing gowns in record time and they would exactly replicate the sketch Valentino made the day before. Note to self: surround yourself with talented people.

See trailer here: