During Giambattista Valli’s Pre-Fall 2023 ready-to-wear collection presentation, the designer’s PR team highlighted the presence of “Valli pink“, a sweet shade closely associated with the designer himself. This emphasis on color was further highlighted when Valli spotted an old photograph of peony pink cars parked in front of the Beverly Hills Hotel during a stay there in October. The designer was so inspired by this image that he took a photo of it, and it took pride of place on his mood board for his Spring/Summer 2023 haute couture show.
This show was a display of extravagant fishtail dresses, ballgowns and feathery coats, all in shades of Valli pink and other pretty, flattering shades. The collection exuded a sense of color and volume, with the designer’s atelier coaxing expansive puffs, swags, and rosette swirls from silk faille, moire, tulle and chiffon. The designer does not bother with daywear for his haute couture displays, instead, focusing on gowns for parties and happy times.
The show featured young models wearing big dresses, some composed of hundreds of meters of tulle, which bordered on being unwieldy. However, Valli usually kept the body in view, especially legs, but also a slice of tummy here and there, with a few looks hinging on sparkly, crystal-mesh catsuits.
To cap off the dreamy, escapist show, Valli conscripted flame-haired Brazilian actress and socialite Marina Barbosa to wear the finale look, which was a sparkling jacket, pants as big as a ballgown, and a tulle cape. Barbosa exemplifies the fun-loving, international women of style to whom the couturier caters, and often wears Valli pink.
