The notion of tweaking eveningwear for day is taking off this week. Alber Elbaz did it at Lanvin, and at Valentino, Pier Paolo Piccioli and Maria Grazia Chiuri launched a capsule collection called Techno Couture that reimagines some of the house signatures—the roses, the ruffles, the ruching—in easy-to-wear stretch wool. The resulting black and white dresses are still plenty feminine, but you don't have to wait for a big night to pull them off. As in the duo's recent runway collections, the look was younger and hipper than it was during Valentino Garavani's own heyday, an effect compounded by a new focus on daywear. Nylon trenches in foundation colors topped knee-length lace frocks, some of which came with simple T-shirt-like bodices. Hanging on racks in the studio were flaring seventies-style trousers and elongated cardigans, the most covetable with a black mink front and a knit back. Another gem was tucked away in the showroom: A stripey turtleneck sweater fused with lace and shown with a leopard-spot A-line skirt (not pictured in the slideshow) looks destined for the front row at fashion shows next month—who will be the lucky insider to score those samples? A trio of puffer coats drove home the designers' message: Valentino isn't just a red-carpet brand. Then again, if you ask us, a long, black lace and organza dress with a slight empire waist and a removable pearl collar would look smashing on a certain pregnant starlet on the awards show circuit.- Nicole Phelps
Loving the last four dresses
Completely irrelevant and off topic but i just went on Alix's blog (The cherry blosson girl) and i'm so jealous of her visit to Marie Antoinette's private apartments in Versailles. She took some lovely photos.
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