- Danielle Wightman-Stone
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Italian fashion designer Giambattista Valli decided to skip the catwalk
during Paris Haute Couture Week in favour of an exhibition to showcase his
frothy tulle creations at the Shangri-La hotel in Paris.
On his Instagram, Valli explained that the exhibition was the “essence
of haute couture” allowing guests a closer look at his spectacular
made-to-measure creations, from his signature tulle ruffle explosion gowns
to bustier cocktail dresses embroidered with silk organza petals and silk
taffeta column dresses with all-over floral prints.
Showing them like they are works of art is quite fitting, especially as
some of his red carpet creations require up to 300 hours of work, and this
was a masterclass on craftsmanship.
Highlights from the autumn/winter 2019 couture collection included
extravagant tulle ballgowns in new colours, including peachy pink, pale
mint, and light blue named after flowers, a white double-layered wool crêpe
and silk cocktail dress with an off-the-shoulder neckline featured floral
embroideries and a draped mini cocktail dress in antique silk in a rose
print.
The couture collection comes off the back of a very busy few months for
the Italian designer, in May, he announced his H&M designer collaboration at the amfAR gala in
Cannes, and the limited-edition see-now-buy-now capsule collection became
an instant sellout, putting the pressure on the rest of the collaboration
drop in November. Valli also just dressed Charlotte Casiraghi, a
granddaughter of Grace Kelly, in a custom wedding dress.
Images: courtesy of Giambattista Valli
