Pre-Fall is the second offering from Giamba, Giambattista Valli’s new, more youthfully oriented line. Much like the debut collection last September, this one took its cues from 1960s style. There were dolly bird dresses in macramé lace and oversize daisy prints; a single-button, flared-leg pantsuit in a lily of the valley pattern; and a suede coat lined in lavender shearling that looked like it could’ve come from Marianne Faithfull’s closet. This is familiar stuff—Swinging London is one of fashion’s all-time favorite eras to lift from. What makes Valli’s take on the moment worth a closer look is his flair for prints. The Art Nouveau floral on a delicately smocked bodice minidress and its matching platform sandals were pure Biba, and with hearts trending elsewhere, Giamba’s Valentine motif should do well. A fake-fur-lined army parka and skater sneakers gave the lineup a shot of 21st-century timeliness.
—Nicole Phelps, Style.com
