The Valentino brand has always understood femininity, but under the direction of Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pier Paolo Piccioli, that means something very different than it did when the legendary Garavani was at the helm. Chiuri and Piccioli favor a light and almost demure look that skews girly with touches of lace and sheer detailing, but never looks immature. This season featured the gauzy dresses the duo have become known for, but expanded the airy look to include structured separates for day, floral printed gowns and a lineup of on trend python accessories. No matter the look, an ethereal feel ran through the entire showing; even the thick fur worn by Patricia Van Der Vliet and the laser cut leather skirt on Daphne Groeneveld seemed to float. When designers can take materials that dense and imbue them with lightness it shows not only talent, but the power of a compelling design signature.
