In Paris, you can easily spot a Giambattista Valli couture show from a distance. The vibrant saffron yellows, baby pinks, and rich blues of puff tulle dresses worn by clients and street style stars create a striking contrast against the gray cobblestone streets. For the fall 2024 haute couture show, Valli stuck to his signature style of big tulle dresses with excessive volume, but with a twist of Indian influence combined with Italian opulence.
As the lights dimmed in the mirrored room at 7 Place Vendôme, Indian musicians began playing as the first dresses made their debut on the runway. The collection featured bouquet-like gowns with frothy silk gossamer covered in floating florals reminiscent of Indian jasmine garlands. Fabric blossoms were intricately styled with veils, positioned as bustiers, or cascading down from Valli’s iconic tulle dresses. The designer described the collection as a surreal conversation between his love for India, paradise gardens, and Botticelli’s iconography, showcasing a harmonious blend of cultures.
Models with painted faces in shades of blue or lilac, inspired by Hindu gods, strutted down the runway in gowns with sheer hoods and sculptural sleeves. The color palette of mint greens, royal purples, and raspberry reds added a vibrant touch to the collection, standing out in a season dominated by neutrals and darker hues. Despite the extravagant nature of the gowns, many models wore flat shoes, giving the looks a real-world appeal.
With just 33 looks in the collection, each piece was meticulously curated to showcase its unique personality. The voluminous and oversized silhouettes of the gowns added to the fantasy of wearing a Giambattista Valli couture creation. The designer emphasized the importance of colors that evoke sensory experiences, such as the ability to smell or taste them, and the play between lightness and volume in the designs.
Overall, the fall 2024 Giambattista Valli couture collection was a celebration of bold colors, intricate embellishments, and larger-than-life silhouettes. Each look exuded its own distinct personality and commanded attention with its sheer presence on the runway. To wear a Giambattista Valli couture gown is to step into a realm of fantasy where size, volume, and extravagance reign supreme.