Fashioned: Valentino Fall 2006 Couture

We're all ready for coats, and here's a beautifully embroidered coat with a Russian influence, and crystal pleating as trim. I think the back view below is instructive as well, for his handling and placement of the embroidered motifs. How much more wearable this is than full embroidery on the back as well as the front, and yet it looks as perfectly imagined as the front.

This dress with tucks as a control is interesting as well.

Typically interesting use of stripes, a wide bowed belt, and the first really flattering wide, gathered sleeves I've seen lately. That's the lace blouse showing below the jacket, with 3 rows of rickrack trim at the bottom.

Horizontally tucked skirt with an embellished tiny jacket.

Zip-front, fur-trimmed coat with a pointed hem. I love the lace at the bottom of the stand-up collar, visible below.

A rather simple dress with a beautiful lace peplum and sleeves. You can see the raw tulle edges below, and the tiny tulle shoulder pads in the sleeves. Lightness is paramount, and there is nothing other than the probably substantial weight of the beading and lace itself to hold this down.

The ruffle hemmed skirt suit is still with us, and looking very current.

Very interesting re-embroidered fabric in this suit with a ruched satin band around the jacket, and a lovely color.

Lace appliqué on tweed with a fichú effect.

A velvet-trimmed, beautifully embroidered suit with an invisible closure, so as not to spoil the lines of the embroidery.

A fur-edged lace shrug with a smocked dress, as well as a look at the back of the previous suit. Note the darling back detail on the shrug in the photo below.

A gorgeous lace jacket with fur and ribbon trim over an embroidered skirt. You can see a close up of the luscious fabric below. The lace is backed with a pink satin.