Are you guys following Nick Knight/Showstudio’s coverage of the couture shows?

At left, Lindsay Wixson for Chanel, at left a view from Giambattista Valli.

Love his images of runway. They’ve got so much personality! -RS

Giambattista Valli Fall 2012 Couture was a snooze, punctuated by moments of severe ruffle-induced discomfort.

The show opened full of dark, brownish reds (ick) used for what could have been a lovely coat had it not been for the extra embellishment at the shoulders that resembled barnacles more than florals, and done up in yet another variation of a floral print spattered every which way. Dear Mr Valli, Florals. Ruffles. We get it, now can you move on?

So, more florals, more ruffles but this time in nauseating shades of green- the aptly named “lasagna ruffle” is what really made me uncomfortable here- running all the way up necklines nearly swallowing up those poor models heads, and bordered on hemlines in a sort of Laura Ashley pillowcase frenzy and then gathered in bushels and stuffed all over skirts. It was as if the design team just thought oh well couture we can make this cost more, let’s throw 500% more fabric in just for the laugh.

Not a successful strategy. The more simple silhouettes will surely still sell (the red and green pleated gown, while a questionable color palette that reminds me of a tacky Christmas card, was a lovely look otherwise) but my goodness I just wanted to rescue those poor girls from the depths of the tea-cozy-easter-bonnet looking floral nightmares they were wading down the runway in. -RS (images via WWD)