Paris Fashion Week, Fall 2008: Valentino

Now that Valentino has officially stepped down, succeeding designer Alessandra Facchinetti made her catwalk debut for Fall.

Compared to the pale pastels, bright zings of color, and oodles of ruffles Valentino has infused into his designs the last couple of seasons, Alessandra's work lacked a little of the label's joie de vivre. It could be the more subdued, Fall-appropriate color palette of navy, neutrals, blush, and mustard giving off that impression, but the keen attention to detail wasn't there. It was definitely a safe first collection, but there were hints of good things to come — the requisite Va-Va red was in place. Besides, taking over a label after 45 years under the helm of one man is not a position I envy.

To see more Valentino, read more