Alessandra Facchinetti's First Collection For Valentino

It was light and beautiful, just as Valentino would have liked it. Alessandra Facchinetti's first collection since the couturier retired was, as far as we can tell, a complete success. Everything from the ultra-feminine gowns to the more sculptured daywear pieces to the signature Valentino-red dress finale, looked like what you would have expected had Valentino still been designing. This was, no doubt, a smart move for Facchinetti who we're guessing won't spread her wings for a while, if ever. As a former designer for Gucci, she's likely to understand the importance of keeping with tradition, especially when designing for one of the world's most well-known names in haute couture. This collection, as varied as was the color palate and range of silhouettes, was clearly about the embellishments. Each piece whether by way of soft pleating, layers, or embroidery, showed of the handiwork that is only possible in couture, making each dress a 'I'll only wear this once and it will be the best night of my life' Valentino dress. Or at least, that's how we imagine it.