Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pier Paolo Piccioli solidified their reign as the crowned couple of Parisian elegance at Valentino's spring show. No one comes close to this duo in terms of crafting a modern style that also comes packaged with impeccable taste and wizardly craftsmanship. The clothes look as outrageously expensive as any proper haute couture production, but mercifully they are not. That being said, they are nowhere near cheap, as it takes time, skill and money to produce the delicate, intricate clothing that has become a house signature since the duo took over from Mr Valentino Garavani himself. This season, the designers dove into intricate thread and lace embroideries, suede intarsias in floral patterns, lacy denim, rainbow patchworked eyelet, coral and other sea life appliqué, and best of all, a 3D butterfly extravaganza that was meticulously crafted from millions of micro feathers. It was all worn with the now-trendy flat sandals they themselves ushered in two seasons ago; this time executed in a thin, strappy gladiator version. The sheer quantity of ideas could have caused a car crash effect on other runways, but the huge stream of creativity was spun here into a beautiful collection that flowed naturally and gracefully into a cohesive, exquisite whole.
Photography: Jason Lloyd-Evans
