Giambattista Valli

Valentine’s Day for “Valli Girls”

by Isabella Behravan

When you visit Giambattista Valli’s namesake website, immediately “My Funny Valentine” echoes through the speakers. Chet Baker’s voice gives you just as many chills as the mesmerizing structural pieces from Valli’s Haute Couture and Ready-To-Wear collections. His Parisian headquarters are also steeped in the Classics. The historic building was once the home of Jean-Baptiste Lully, chief master of the French baroque style, composer and instrumentalist who spent most of his life working in the court of Louis XIV. Giambattista understands the Classics and for his latest diffusion line he calls back to some timeless unwavering goddesses.

Valli cites Shelly Duval, the queen of big eyed, long legged, free wheeling style, as one of his inspirations behind Giamba. The designer also boasts a devout band of current celebrity followers. Diane Kruger, Clotilde de Kersauson, Anna Dello Russo, Jessica Biel, Lena Dunham, and Margherita Missoni are often front row at his shows and a few were even cooing “Giamba” in the teaser video he released to announce his latest diffusion collection. “This is the other side of my personality. Giamba is my nickname, the one that is used by my very close friends. So this is the other side of the coin, my playful side,” says Valli. He designed this collection with these friends in mind. "It's a 250-piece collection, what you've just seen on the catwalk is only one aspect of it.” Valli pronounces.

Giamba is not only a diffusion line that will retail for 30-40% less than his Ready-To-Wear lines, but a way of life.

And his way of life is full of silhouettes built to be accompanied by sparkly sky-high platforms and subtle Jane Birkin fringe. While the collection does boast licorice pastel anoraks, and sorbet hued floral minis, Giamba is anything but saccharine. Instead, it’s the encapsulation of effortlessly chic Parisienne cool with a dash of glacé.

Giamba offers you the freedom to let your burgeoning sheer polka dotted ruffled dreams take flight. I want to be a "Valli Girl" where each day is Valentine’s Day.