In Rome, Valentino Looks to Past and Present

ROME — The Spanish Steps, one of the most iconic spots in the Città Eterna, was the marvellous backdrop to Valentino’s couture show tonight. A fashion show on the steps might look exotic to foreigners, but for Italians it recalls memories of Donna sotto le stelle, the hugely successful national TV programme that aired from 1986 to 2003, and on which la crême of Italian designers presented their collections to the public.

The house of…