Ever since Giambattista Valli took the creative reigns of Moncler's Gamme Rouge label, the brand has pushed puffer jackets to dizzying pinnacles of couture revelry. It was somewhat of a shock, then, to see the Gamme Rouge runway very nearly stripped of its bedazzled, embroidered and otherwise 'luxified' outerwear. In its place, Valli delivered down-to-earth sportswear that looked very much like what one would actually find on the clean, well-merchandised racks of a Moncler store. Bomber jackets in wool felt, Bermuda shorts in crisp cotton and hooded sweatshirts made the case for casual dressing. For more formal moments, the look still possessed a laid back attitude. Short lengths dominated the trapeze shaped dresses, brief shorts and mini skirts, all of which were paired with a smart lace-up oxford. Of course, Valli's heart belongs to a posh uptown girl, so he threw in some intricate lace embroideries, but cut them according to the short, sporty mood of the show. The finale of sailing windbreakers splashed with the patterns of national flags blew further evidence to the fact that Moncler's lofty outerwear is coming down to earth.
Photography: Jason Lloyd-Evans
