Daily Front Row

2013 January 24

Paris Couture: Valentino

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Valentino Haute Couture Spring 2013
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(PARIS) Valentino 
Deep inside the Rocco suite of the Hôtel Salomon de Rothschild, Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pierpaolo Piccioli wove an enchanted fairy tale of such magic and frothy lightness that Valentino Garavani rose to his feet and embraced the dynamic duo post-show. The house’s “once upon a time” centered around a secret garden theme, complete with hand-painted floral frocks, lavish gowns encrusted with guipure, porcelain pearls, and crystals, and the ubiquitous birds of whimsy. Those winged creatures perched pretty in yards of black tulle on a bustier gown that took 600-plus hours to craft at the atelier. Others were spotted embroidered onto a porcelain silk gown, caged by a transparent cape in black piping that captured a time gone by yet remained modern. For a seasonal shot of Valentino red, look no further than a superb caped shift for an insta-update to the house's staple skirtsuits. Bien fait, darlings.