Morocco is woven into Giambattista Valli’s language “as an obsession,” he said. For resort, Marrakesh’s influence descended from the heights of last season’s couture, reinterpreted in a breezier, more laidback register. Think a palette of spicy reds and saffrons, and printed profusions of roses and bougainvilleas as if plucked straight from a garden. Steeped in the kind of jet-set wanderlust he excels at, the collection offered (momentary) escapism with its feet (lightly) planted. Said Valli: “Who could fault the longing for a breath of beauty in a world that feels increasingly harsh?”
Valli has always been a believer in the power of grace, and in beauty rooted not in trends but in personal conviction. For him, style is less about chasing the moment and more about embodying something timeless. “People are afraid of the idea of classic, harmonious beauty—they think it’s uncool, dusty, passé,” he observed with a shrug. But he’s rather unbothered by fashion’s fleeting flirtations, and remains steadfast in his vision.
This collection is a case in point, striking a balance between romance and realism. Long, fluid dresses had beautifully draped bodices; lace slip dresses were edged with delicate capelet sleeves; and boho flounced frocks floated with asymmetrical whimsy. Interwoven with these billowy silhouettes were svelte minidresses and tailored short suits rendered in light fabrics, anchored by embroidered babouches and crocheted tarbooshes, lending just a dash of eccentric charm. It was Valli making the case for chic pragmatism, unafraid to mix the dreamy with the grounded.