Valentino Couture Fall 2008

First couture show for young designer Alessandra Facchinetti brought a fresh vibe to the Italian fashion house of Valentino. The starting point was a new strong romanticism, without the typical Valentino sweetness. Alessandra found inspiration in van Dyck oeuvres, contemporary paper sculpture and the house embroidery archive.

Valentino Couture Fall 2008 collection

The result was full of grace yet very modern. The young designer redrew the outlines of Valentino classics with curved, balloon volumes and played with embellishments: buttons appliqué, lace embroideries, wool skeins, laser-filigree cuffs and hemispherical brooches of georgette and metal.

Valentino Couture Fall 2008 by Alessandra Facchinetti If these seemed too heavy on embellishments, the fairy-like evening gowns, including a Valentino-red one, expressed Facchinetti's flair for draping chiffon in an astonishing delicate way. If these aren't red carpet material I don't know what is.

Valentino Haute Couture fall'08