Ethereal. Whimsical. Romantic. Words that get thrown around often when describing beautiful clothes, but in the case of Valentino‘s Spring 2012 collection, none could be more accurate. Their magical assortment of lacy, laser-cut, sheer, embroidered, and appliquéd dresses put all other airy, gauzy frocks to shame. Designers Pier Paolo Piccioli and Maria Grazia Chiuri found their state of minds set in early twentieth-century Mexico, and transparency proved to be the theme of today’s show in Paris. From peek-a-boo cotton skirts to whisper-thin panels on satiny leather dresses to gowns of revealing floral mesh, the geometric lace was weightless and the show played out like a picture-perfect fantasy. Indeed, Piccioli asserted, “Fashion is a dream and in this moment we need dreams.”

I couldn’t agree more! Fortunately, the collection’s dreamy quality was countered by intelligent design. It was full of looks comprised of precious materials that somehow didn’t look too precious – flat sandals contributed to the earth-nymph feel. Plenty of Valentino ruffles cascaded, but they did so with purpose. In sleek silhouettes with precise lines and carefully placed see-through panels (womanly-suggestive, not little girly-cutesy), the models, donning cherubic pink cheeks and plaited hair, looked like smart, experienced angels with just a hint of naïvete.

Photo Credit: Style.com