For Fall 2012 Valentino Couture, Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pier Paolo Piccioli showed a collection of darkly romantic dresses that were far more sensual than what the pair has shown before. Transparencies were used to great effect, but rather than the usual ethereal femme look of the past few seasons, this time around there was more sexual energy, it was more charged, a bit more aggressive. That was clearly a good call as it gave some zing I think the Couture collection needed, and certainly perked up expectations.

The color palette focused on a midnight blue, a some black mixed back with gold, and a few hits of color here and there in a mimosa yellow, dusty pink and of course a requisite Valentino Red evening gown. Maria Grazia and Pier Paolo expanded upon the dress shape they have been developing since their arrival at the brand- natural waist, narrow bodice, floaty fluted skirt- and played with accordion pleats, new types of embellishment and in shorter silhouettes one side of a hem tacked up to reveal some more leg- a look I loved. -RS (Images via Vogue.com)

The second half the Resort 2013 collection did focus more on the hot pink, black and white color stories, turning out versions in dresses short and long. Every single one of them was really wonderful; I see endless red carpet possibilities for anyone from JPG to Kiki Dunst to Alexa Chung to Bianca Balti and everyone in between.

There is wiggle room in this collection to wear it super femme and retro, or to work it more glam or even add a bit of edge. The versatility and beauty of each individual look strengthens the offering as a whole, and I can only offer my congratulations to Maria Grazia and Pier Paolo for yet another fantastic and inspired upholding of the Valentino tradition.- RS (Images via Vogue.com)

The Italians are really killin’ it this Resort 2013 season. First it was Gucci I couldnt get over how good it was, and now Valentino. Maria Grazia and Pier Paolo presented one of their best collections to date, showing what were simply good, good, clothes.

The first look was a floor-length sunset pastel colored floral dress that set the tone for the entire collection. Dresses and separates were a bit prim; cigarette pants paired with neat blouses, knee-length dresses with tight little collars and A-line skirts, and extraordinary evening-wear were all vaguely reminiscent of the early 1960’s without seeming retro or overly derivative at all. The colors too were wonderful- the soft pastel group opening into a perfect bright medium green, a buttery yellow, lots of hot pink in a perfectly pitched hue, and some black and white mixed in. The lacy dresses were particularly good updates of what has become a Valentino staple, especially when accessorized in matching colors. For some reason this looked super fresh to the eye. Sleek and clean rather than over-styled as people are wont to do these days. -RS (Images via Vogue.com)

More Cannes red carpet photos from the front lines of the French festival. Today an entire post on models at Cannes because that’s extra fashion! -RS (Images via fashiongonerogue)

Top row: Natasha Poly in Gucci looks lovely but perhaps out of season, Lara Stone in Calvin Klein needs some undergarments and a steamer, Liu Wen WINS in Roberto Cavalli.

Bottom row: Bianca Balti can pull off the drama of this Dolce & Gabbana, Erin Wasson finally gets her shit together and puts on something other than cut off jeans in this Antonio Berardi look, and Barbara Palvin is utterly flawless in Valentino.

Fan BingBing winning again (twice!) at Cannes. I mean, really! -RS (Images via T&L)

Valentino, Dolce & Gabbana, and Emilio Pucci get styled with a Mexican flair, in this lovely early-Spring editorial for Grazia Germany. Yana Sotnikova poses for photographer Tina Luther in this sunny set. I’ll be taking this as inspiration for my upcoming Latin/Caribbean trip! -RS 

WWD reports that the big trend in sunnies for Summer 2012 is- wait for it- modernizing the past. In other words, vintage styling is still happening. Shocked.

However- check out how awesome those Valentino lace-print ones are! So into that. (Images via WWD, tortoise sunnies are Celine)- RS

For Valentino Pre-Fall 2012, MariaGrazia and Pierpaolo showed variations on the ladylike silhouettes of the past few seasons. The daintily tied center-front bow details, the short, voluminous silk skirts, fitted jackets with slightly pouffed sleeves… all in a palette that did not veer away from Valentino red, black, white and nude. The super-popular studded shoes they have been showing appeared for this season in vaguely Victorian booties- for the win. -RS (Images via Vogue.com)