When H&M announced their collaboration with Giambattista Valli last May with a limited-edition pre-drop, people lined up and the beautiful pieces just flew off the racks in a couple of hours. The Paris-based master of beauty and sophistication, the long-awaited Giambattista Valli x H&M collection is finally arriving in stores on November 7th. We are definitely planning to camp outside the store so we can snag our favorites before they sell out. We think that, once you know what’s coming, you’ll be joining us too.
Giambattista Valli is known as the dressmaker to some of the most glamorous people of the contemporary world, from globetrotting, jet-setting gals to artists and celebrities, the Valli Girls. Giambattista Valli created a feisty collection for H&M that reads like an eclectic recap of his style. “I am excited about this collaboration. H&M gives me the opportunity to bring my vision of style and my celebration of beauty to a wider audience. The goal is to share my love for beauty and to be able to be part of everyone’s “happy moments”, to help create love stories all around the world” said Giambattista Valli.
He calls it an “abecedario”, which in Italian, means a dictionary. The collection: A selection of timeless pieces meant to be mixed and matched according to personal style; items designed to last and be cherished for a long time. It’s all about style more than fashion.
“We are thrilled to collaborate with Giambattista Valli. He is the undisputed master of haute couture with a knack for the memorable silhouette. To be able to bring his signature styles to our customers is a dream come true. We can’t wait to see their reactions to this beautiful collection” said Ann-Sofie Johansson, Creative Advisor H&M.
Dresses take the center stage, drawing a garden of fashionable pieces. Long gowns hug the bust and flow below the waist, while movement is highlighted by lace edging, beautiful prints and widening of tiers on a tulle gown. A dramatic red dress opens up in giant ruffles at the shoulders like wings of an angel.
Micro floral prints and a fluttering of ruffles give long sleeved or sleeveless dresses a rococo dash of French politesse, which carries on in the demure short dresses. A flowery tutu with an asymmetric ruffle is as quintessentially Valli as a black, curvaceous bustier dress with flaps. Blouses and little cardigans ooze the same feminine spirit, conveyed through micro ruffles and flower embroideries.
Tailored items – a short blazer with peak lapels, and a long coat – capture the sharp side of the collection. Edged in flower motifs, these slightly masculine pieces are seen in a very feminine way, marrying delicacy with strictness to great effect. Voluminous outerwear brings a touch of bohemia to the discourse, while cargo pants and leather trousers have a tomboyish tone that is balanced by pretty mini skirts.
In order to cater the Valli girls of every generation, Giambattista Valli created a series street-inflected pieces that nonetheless retain his unique sense of femininity and embellishment. A black hoodie swarms with flower motifs, while a print of lips runs all over the t-shirt. Decorative embroideries give preciousness to the simple sweatshirt. A logo on the chest is straightforward, in a fresh way.
This also encompasses a wide range of jewelry and accessories to freely play with. The string of pearls is the key item: modeled on the style Giambattista himself wears; it features a mouth pendant that is molded on the designer’s own lips. High heel sandals and booties share the stage with flat slippers. Shoulder bags are small and demure, adding posture. The elements to play with are feisty and varied. The interpretation is up to all the aspiring Valli Girls.
Giambattista Valli is loved by stylish women of all ages, but so far, the designer had never created clothing for men, which makes his debut in menswear with the Giambattista Valli x H&M collection particularly exciting. For the first time, the Valli Girls will meet their Valli Boys: as spirited, individual, eccentric and eclectic as one would expect. Not a designer to follow the beaten track, Giambattista Valli approached menswear in reverse.
Instead of having women borrow pieces from the men’s wardrobe, as it usually happens, Valli explored the idea of free-spirited men taking pieces, patterns and fabrics from the women’s wardrobe; sampling and mixing freely, like DJs. The choice of flesh pink as the basic color – the simplest tee in the collection is pink, not white – says it all.
The collection is a quirky selection of timeless items meant to be adopted and adapted, mixed and matched. The animal patterns, flower motifs, punk allure and military glamour suggests an eclectic vision of masculine style: the same cool approach to the art of dressing of a Berlin artist, say, with the insouciant laissez faire of a skater. The Valli Boy comes across as a free-spirited bohemian, part surfer part art collector, who mixes bits, references and pieces; an eccentric globetrotter who breaks the rules. Girls are invited to wear the collection, too.
The pieces that make the strongest impact, and perfectly capture the masculine/feminine spirit of the collection, are the coats, parkas and blousons: a veritable feat of eccentric prints, luscious embellishment and personality. The embroidered tailcoat is a homage to the jacket worn by French intellectuals and artists when they join the Académie Française. High uniform embroideries elevate and glamorize a bleached denim jacket. The dovetail parka is overprinted with art portraits to great effect; red leather and plush fabrics give blousons an aristocratic allure.
A designer with an unremitting point of view on everything, Giambattista Valli gave his own, precious spin to basic everyday items such as t-shirts, sweatshirts, hoodies. Leopard and flower motifs swarm on tees and hoodies. The zip up hoodie is transformed from a humble everyday staple to a more majestic version of itself with embroidery. Fatigues and track pants come in eye-catching, genderless animal print versions.
Giambattista Valli hand-picked some of his own favorite items to complement the collection. Not only are the boots and the crepe-soled lace-ups identical to the ones the designer wears, but so are the sport socks – which come in white, black, flower and leopard prints – and sunglasses, which are a whimsical signature touch. And the styling is up to all the aspiring Valli Boys.
The collection will be available on November 7th at H&M 1st Avenue – The Avenues and hm.com. For more info follow @giambattistavalliparis and @hm on Instagram. Featured image courtesy of H&M.
