The Valentino Spring-Summer 2011 Collection was previewed last fall, featuring the designs of creative directors Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pier Paolo Piccioli. In the video, most of the fabrics were soft and sheer, from chiffons, silk organzas, to laces, in light colors and muted tones, with the exception of the use of black and red. The designs were mostly fluid, simply flattering and feminine.
Situated between the Theatre des Champs Elysées and the Plaza Athenée Hotel on Avenue Montaigne, I decided to walk by to take a closer look at the Valentino window displays. To my surprise, the pieces showcased were none among the featured items in the fashion show, but just as beautiful and appealing.
Valentino's spring and summer theme is "Garden Party." "Discover Garden Party - a secret party where seductive flower prints spring to life." It's all about flowers in the clothes' designs and fashion accessories.
This short spring dress is elegantly casual for daytime or early evening wear. The impressionistic style plants and flowers grow on a background from light to dark. It looks romantic and dramatic.
The Garden Party look is in some of the fashion accessories of matching shoes and bag. This ensemble will dress up other casual-wear pieces you may have in your wardrobe.
Here is one long gown where the leaf-clover designs are hand painted (or possibly silk-screened) in varied shades of green, with one section embroidered in pink silk thread, and in the middle of each is a rhinestone to give it some bling. The effect is like having fresh flowers cascade all over the dress, in random pattern.
The cut is simple - round neckline, a long-torso bodice joined below the waist by a skirt cut on the bias to an A-line shape. The corded belt accentuates the waistline without distracting from the overall design and adding to that feminine touch.
In this creation, the bodice is petaled in single layer. From the waist down are different muted colors until it ends with the dramatic black along the hemline of multiple layers of cut-up fabric, thinly corded along the edging, forming the flower-shaped appliqués that are sewn to the skirt, in graduated sizes, giving it a three-dimensional finish.
A thin cord tied into a bow on the side cinches the waistline.
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In this short cocktail dress, little flower lace pieces have been appliqued and embellished with silver glass beads around the flower patterns to adorn the bodice. A fur shrug or a bolero - I would call it a "shrap" a shoulder wrap - of the same tint is part of the design, to be worn on cool evenings. The skirt is beflowered with the same material as the basic dress, of petal-shaped pieces, gathered in multi layers and sewn to form the bigger flowers.
There are also long-gown versions constructed in this same manner.
This straw-like bag, made with a woven natural material of braided natural fibers (possibly abaca) and leather and metal furnishings, is ornamented with different pastel shades of soft leather, shaped into different flowers. There are pairs of sandals and ballerina shoes to match. An all-leather bag version with the same flower motif is available, too.
These multi-colored fabric roses, with pinked edges (cut with pinking shears), cover every inch of this bag, big enough to be a carry-all bag, except for the leather handles, the clasp and the metal furnishings.
The sunglasses for the season are white framed, in this collection.
You need not travel far to get some of these fashion pieces. They now have an online store. After seeing this collection, I am getting ideas on how to be in step with the Valentino design ideas this spring.
