Pierpaolo Piccioli's Valentino presented its Fall/Winter 2017-18 Haute Couture collection in the event space of the former Rothschild mansion in Paris. With a choir playing in the background, the audience was captivated by the maison's sublime long dresses, crafted with the house's finest techniques. The opening series, featuring a wide range of double-faced fabrics, exuded a subdued atmosphere thanks to its pop color palette, but the minimalist silhouettes evoked a sanctity reminiscent of a monk's hooded coat or a priest's robe. While the house's signature patchwork, appliqué, and delicate embroidery might otherwise be considered hedonistic, the simple silhouettes instead evoked austerity and stoicism. The sheer full-length dresses, adorned with ruffles that fluttered gracefully in the breeze, were coordinated with bras and shorts underneath, exuding strength and dignity within their subdued femininity. The collection was unified by a balance of just the right amount of femininity and solemnity.

In contrast to the divine dresses, the minaudière bags (tiny bags named after the action of making a curve) were inspired by the seven deadly sins, featuring motifs of animals such as lions and monkeys, as well as skulls. This was a collaboration with Halmi Klossowska de Rola, who presented a fine jewelry collection earlier this year. Although the theme of sin against the sacred is contradictory, it brought a beautiful harmony to the collection.