Valentino attends Valentino show. So do Gene Simmons’ kids.

The presence of Valentino Garavani, founder of the brand that bears his name, created quite the buzz at the Valentino haute couture show Wednesday. Well-wishers made a beeline to his front row seat, beside longtime partner Giancarlo Giacommetti.

Now that Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pierpaolo Piccioli design the line, we asked Valentino’s opinion of the label’s direction. “I like it very much,” he replied. “It is keeping the mood and spell of Valentino and that is very important.”

Also on scene were the VVIP fashion pack including editors Anna Wintour of Vogue Magazine, Glenda Bailey of Harper’s Bazaar and Carine Roitfeld of CR Fashion Book, formerly of Paris Vogue.

Among others in the audience were siblings Nick and Sophie Simmons, having just arrived from Los Angeles and spending the day attending haute couture shows. “It’s been a great day,” Sophie said. (Their parents are Gene Simmons of KISS and Shannon Tweed.)

Held at the majestic Hotel Salomon de Rothschild, a former Parisian mansion, the program described the setting as an enchanted garden. As is usual in Valentino collections, the remarkable craftsmanship and time-consuming handwork were apparent in the meticulous embroidery, piping designs and beadwork on the dreamy confections.

According to the program, one silk dress, named for a mythical garden -- le Jardin d’ Hesperides -- required 2,500 hours of embroidery with gold and silver threads. Another gown, this time encrusted with crystals and mother of pearl pearls, was said to take 1,200 hours of embroidery.

After the designers took their bows, Valentino rose to embrace them.

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