Paris Haute Couture Week: Giambattista Valli’s stripes and flowers

A model presents a creation by Giambattista Valli during the 2014/2015 Haute Couture Fall-Winter collection fashion show on July 7, 2014 in Paris. AFP PHOTO / MIGUEL MEDINA

It was a floral and optical ode to the 1950s for the Italian designer Giambattista Valli at his Paris Haute Couture Week show.

Alongside big bow hair ribbons, retro monochrome stripes plastered vertically, horizontally and diagonally gave energy to loosefitting sheaths and produced many beautiful plays on transparent tulle skirts.

Flashes of bright colours, like a vivid yellow waist band, gave the retro looks a trendy lift.

It was a strong collection, and the embellished floral embroideries in bright red, blue, pink and yellow across ‘50s full skirts were some of the best quality seen so far this year.

The Rome-born designer lost his way a little toward the middle of the show with a black-and-white look that evoked Cruella de Vil.

But the show finished on a well-deserved crescendo as the designer came out to receive his applause surrounded by a multicoloured army of ethereal, voluminous tulle bridal dresses.