Giambattista Valli Catwalk Fashion Show Paris SS2013

Tailored suits and pretty dresses alternated each other in the first few Valli looks. A perfect balance of strong and soft, which slowly merged with one another as the show continued. There might have been a lot of masculine influences; every look was chic and sophisticated. Jumpsuits were given small legs and shorts sleeves. Structured cropped jackets were combined with sheer tops and sexy briefs. Plus low V-necks and peplum details added an extra dose of femininity to the collection, without making it too fussy and frilly. Greys, blacks and whites got a touch of red towards the end. Gold and silver beaded creations looked chic for both Valli’s old and young clientèle. And they might put their panties on display a little too often, Valli’s women will be perfectly dressed gals next summer.

Giambattista Valli Catwalk Fashion Show Paris FW2012

For next winter Giambattista Valli presented quite a sober collection. He showed knit dresses, checked coats, knee length skirts and sleeveless tops all with one and the same focus point; a wide belt around the models’ waists. Perhaps the designs were a little less sexy than in a average Valli collection, but it definitely fit right in with today’s trends. Looks were cosy and appeared perfect for a cold winter day. Yet some of these looks can be deceiving since some of the knits were actually trompe l’oeil effect printed on airy fabrics. Still, no matter what choice of fabric all outfits were perfectly balanced. Tops looked as great with fur-ish skirts as they did with transparent pleated ones. Some full on graphical printed (and colored) looks (Marni-ish) and a golden croc leather coot stayed classy. And the sheer evening gowns which ended the show mixed covered sexiness with sophistication in a unique way. Now that is how you present a wearable cohesive collection.

 

Giambattista Valli Catwalk Fashion Show Paris SS2012

It was as if we were watching a show full of angels as the Giambattista Valli models were all dressed in white and light-colored designs. As simple as the designs were, as creative were the fabric choices. The show opened with a fur-like material, followed by zebra-printed satin, white lace and shiny, silver embroidered fabric.

It weren’t quite the looks you’d wear to the mall. A fuzzy fringed zebra skirt with a zebra shiny top looked even a bit too much for a night out. And a candy colored fringed dress, looked like it belonged to some kind of circus act. But they sure looked like fun.

Besides, there were plenty of nice and wearable looks left. Mostly cute, princess like dresses adorned with brocade and Swarosvki crystals in shades like pink, ivory, yellow and metallic gold.

True Valli-fans will be thrilled to ad some of those looks to their summer 2012 wardrobe.

Spring is in the air #6

Time to get your BIG sunglasses out. Like these from Giambattista Valli, made of wood and metallic-colored plastic. So glamorous.

groupielove #14

After Fall’s long, almost clerical lengths and the fifties ball skirts of the season before, he went short and leggy for Spring. The recurring silhouette was a drop-waist frothy minidress reminiscent of the twenties. Smothered in dense fringe or feathers (both real and represented in trompe l’oeil prints) or swirls of jeweled embroideries, these jazzy numbers were interspersed with the egg-shaped dresses and cocoon coats that have become a signature of Valli’s nearly five-year-old collection. This season, those came in graphic color-blocking or overscale prints and embroideries inspired by antique carpets. Bold leopard-stamped ponyskin was also in the mix; a short-sleeved jacket and shorts suit in the stuff seemed to attract particularly strong interest from his socialite fan club.

Giambattista Valli Catwalk Fashion Show FW08