Valentino at Paris Fashion Week. Photo: PA
DESIGNERS: Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pier Paolo Piccioli for the house of Valentino.
INSPIRATION: Ethereal, elegant and feminine. In other words, classic Valentino.
TOP LOOKS: For day, cashmere fit-and-flare dresses and skirts that fell to the knee were embellished with metal studs and ribbed panels, with touches of lace here and there, while simple trenches in leather and calfskin were the outwear of choice. We loved the nude leather knife-pleated dress with its delicate lace chemise bodice. Lace continued into eveningwear, with long and lean silhouettes favoured. The last look, a shimmering charteuse floor-length gown with delicate beading was truly stunning.
WHO WAS THERE: Florence Welch, Alexa Chung and Kanye West were all sitting pretty.
WHAT WE THOUGHT: Since taking up the post as joint creative directors, Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pier Paolo Piccioli have struggled to find their footing, but this season they really came into their own with poised elegance and a hint of fairytale. This was a relaxed, beautifully executed collection that is both high covetable and very wearable.