Demurely Valentino ... Fall/Winter 2008 RTW

Simple and wholly demure are two words to best described Alessandra Facchinetti's debut fall/winter 2008 collection for Valentino.

Debuting at the recent Paris Fashion Week just a few months after the Italian fashion maestro officially stepped down from his throne of 45 years, the new collection was far from how Valentino designs used to be - dramatic, breathtaking, stunning, immaculate, and pomp.

Described by Facchinetti as "soft and light with the presence of clean sixties structures", the clothes are delicate and frothy, less embellished, pumped with volumes, and sported influences borrowed from Balenciaga, notable through the application of spacesuit-inspired stand collar on the first ensemble of beige cashmere jacket with belted deep pleated front skirt in pale beige.

Dresses with multi-layered skirts were prevalent throughout the collection, either sporting a knee-length hem or floor-sweeping. There's a sleeveless off-white piece with belted waist and multi-layered feathery skirt, a shift dress with cap sleeves and detailed with metallic accessory on the front of the waist.

Then came a midnight blue cashmere skirt suit ensemble with lace bow detail on the neck, gathered front knee-length skirt, and sheer inner sleeves with cuff in black lace.

Continuing the Valentino show was a halter dress with ruffled details on front, also in midnight with knee-length hem and a pair of gold tone peeped toe sandals, sheer organza tie-front long-sleeved blouse in pale gray with matching tank top inside and navy blue belted skirt, and frothy one-shoulder printed dress in black and white chiffon with ruffled wide neck.

But Valentino's legacy was not forgotten and incorporated in the collection, such as smocks in its trademark red hue with large emphasize on volume, white chiffon dress with layered ruffly hem and neck with black bow detail, and a figure hugging dress in beige with multi-tiered lace ruffles and oversized lace rosettes.

Catching everyone's attention is the beautiful sheer black chiffon long-sleeved blouse matched with a matching multi-tiered skirts and ruffled hems that looked ageless and classy at the same time.

The show was ended with two dresses in Valentino red followed by the appearance of Alessandra Facchinetti.

Valentino's fall/winter 2008 ready- to-wear collection will be available at Valentino boutiques and selected high-end retailers by the end of August to late September while its spring/summer 2008 collection is in stores now.

*Photos by Imaxtree.com

Valentino - Adorn Floor, Starhill Gallery, 181 Jalan Bukit Bintang, 55100 Kuala Lumpur.