Friday, 23 August 2013

Valentino Couture Fall 2013/14 Review

When it comes to red carpet glamour, Valentino have it covered. Beautiful silk gowns, intricate detailing all tailored with precision and care, Valentino are the masters when it comes to couture.  Everyone from Julia Roberts to Keira Knightley have graced the red carpet wearing a magnificent Valentino couture creation and have indeed shimmered and shone against those other mediocre dresses, also trying to impress the fashion pack. This season at the couture shows in Paris, Pierpaulo Piccioli and Maria Grazia Chiuri certainly did not disappoint and produced a show full of drama, a lot of high necklines and of course, stunning, beautiful dresses that caused most of the front - row to swoon in delight.

Grey, subdued tones ran this show which was obviously inspired by Victorian dress and the demure, sophisticated style of clothing of the early 20th century. High necklines, long sleeves, a line coats and black, silk shawls all were displayed before our eyes in the softest materials and finest detailing. Two piece suits in grey and check looked divine and very Valentino circa the late 1960's (think Jackie Kennedy but in 2013.) Skirts came to just below the knee and dresses were embroidered in gold brocade and beads. Minimalist floor length gowns in red, black and cream floated down the catwalk, looking elegant and almost saint like. Indeed all the models looked like angels with hair swept into a chignon and make up natural looking and serene. It was a show that stated that a woman can still look beautiful covered up, fitted into a flattering, angelic creation, rather than spilling out of a tight, revealing dress. For example -  Elizabeth Hurley in that tight black safety-pin Versace dress. Not very angelic. 

Print also did feature in the collection. An a line dress towards the end looked like it had been tie dyed, (I'm sure that's the incorrect term) as it had white circles dotted around the skirt and down the middle. We'll call it tie dyed for now! Flowery, mosaic inspired patterns also appeared on skirts, coats and shift dresses which also looked tasteful and completely desirable.

Since Valentino Garavani left his fashion house in 2008, the house of Valentino has taken a turbulent journey in finding their new identity. However, since Piccioli and Grazia Chiuri took the reins as the creative directors, Valentino has only risen higher and higher in terms of quality of clothing and beautiful handcrafted pieces that women (and men) can't get enough of. And this couture season was no different. Faultless and divine. 

Overall, Valentino graced us with another beautiful collection that even the great Valentino Garavani would have been proud of himself. This fall, Valentino couture offered us a lifetime load of faultless gowns in a demure, traditional fashion that only they could produce. Grazia Chiuri and Piccioli were certainly hoping to see a number of A-List stars in these dresses, and I wouldn't be surprised if there are. My bets on Anne Hathaway or Emily Blunt. If only a couple of digits could be knocked off the price of these gorgeous dresses. Then we would all look like angels, wouldn't we. 

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