Giambattista Valli has conquered two worlds to date – Prêt-à-Porter and haute couture. Where once they were borderline, now there is no dialogue between the two since he can let his imagination roam free in the realms of couture and keep things practical for his ready-to-wear collection.
Valli opted for something more real, for clothes that can actually be worn and we couldn’t be more pleased with this reality check – something which many notable designers are doing these days. This translated to dressing up daywear – jewel-encrusted coats and tracksuits, plenty of zips and impressive fabric treatment from glazing to brocading, which according to Valli was his way of conveying the alchemy that takes place in an urban environment.
Eveningwear on the other hand was dressed down, with formal brocade suits and classically draped cocktail dresses turned down a notch with pony hair deck shoes – a look many will adopt we’re sure.
Going from strength to strength, it seems perfectly logical to finally launch his first Valli bag after starting his signature brand eight years ago. The instantly recognisable gold medallion closure and sensible straps made for a nice addition to the well-conceived collection. A designer bag is after all the best way to bring a little piece of your label to the people.
by Roxy Mirshahi
Images courtesy Style.com