"Very trippy. It s GBV, but in a psychedelic, kaleidoscopic way, with so many flowers you can almost smell them." Giambattista Valli s new Resort collection, as he put it himself, is potent stuff. Bright pink and Parma red flowers blur together on a silk peasant blouse and high-waisted flares; embroidered red lips lifted from Man Ray encircle the waist of an ivory cocktail number; and three-dimensional plastic rosettes bloom from the sides of a party dress. Much of it will prove fairly irresistible to his jet-set customer, especially after a Fall collection that found Valli exploring somewhat challenging bell-shaped pannier silhouettes and, at times, strange shaggy fabrics. The collection was notable for its diversity—the designer embraced short and long, covered-up and bare, soigné and sporty. Holding it all together were familiar Valli-isms, like grosgrain ribbons trimming the waistline of dresses and geometric patchworks of mismatched prints. Best in show were the pieces that keyed into Resort s emerging 1970s trend: for day, a pair of those leg-elongating flares worn with a cardigan jacket in mismatched lace, and for evening, a bohemian beauty of a long dress in printed chiffon with a built-in capelet. Flower power, indeed.
