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Valentino Fall/Winter 2011: Too Safe For The Runway? (PHOTOS, POLL)

First Posted: 03/10/2011 8:48 am   Updated: 05/25/2011 6:35 pm

Paris Fashion Week might have ended on Thursday, but we're still catching up on what came down the runway. Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pier Paolo Picciolo showed their latest collection for Valentino on Wednesday evening, full of delicate dresses, tailored coats and sweaters ripe for fall.

From the Women's Wear Daily report:

Chiuri and Piccioli introduced deeper colors, like navy and oxblood on rich fur coats and trim leather trenches. Then came lighter fare in sheer silk tops, filmy pleated skirts and long, slim gowns that flaunted the atelier's prized couture effects -- lace, chiaroscuro and flower appliqués. There's no question it was beautiful, and also a bit safe. But there's a case to be made for consistency.

The L.A. Times sang the same tune, with Booth Moore writing, "Much of it was very pretty, but the edginess that typically takes Chiuri and Piccioli's collections to a modern place was missing."

And then there was this from Cathy Horyn:

From Valentino, you see a trim collection of suits and coats in beige double-faced cashmere with gold studs arranged in neat rows, geometric plays of lace and leather, and limpid evening dresses in such pale, blurry prints that you feel you have been given Ambien.

Ambien, eh? Well, we guess that can be taken as a jab or a compliment.

Take a look and tell us what you think. You'll probably be seeing the looks on a red carpet near you soonly.

(Images by Getty)

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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Tomass De
06:17 PM on 03/10/2011
horrible..those two people used work with valentino??did they learned anything?
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HUFFPOST COMMUNITY MODERATOR
tanx8
What is this fancy box?
01:41 AM on 03/11/2011
They were strictly accessories designers, hence the dull clothes. Neither Chiuri and Picciolo have a firm grasp of the house's signature style.
04:32 PM on 03/10/2011
All those understated-to-the-point-of-depressing colors made me long desperately for some classic Valentino Red!
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HUFFPOST COMMUNITY MODERATOR
alsm9
Bombshell
03:54 PM on 03/10/2011
While I tend to enjoy the more over the top shows, I thought this was conservative (not in the political sense...), creative, and lovely. You can't have every fashion show being over the top.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Beka13
Veni vidi vici
03:14 PM on 03/10/2011
This is the the best, classiest collection I have seen....The clothes very well speak for themselves and do not use attention grabbing gimics or weird looks to scream look at me!
01:19 PM on 03/10/2011
Some items were dumb looking, meaning basic and some were lovely. I thought the dress in photo #12 was particularly lovely.
12:59 PM on 03/10/2011
What are they talking about "they lost the edginess"?
Beautifil clothes, totally wearable, and very flattering to the women wearing them. Thats how designing should be, not a waste of fabric no one but lady gag would wear.
Valentino wants to sell his clothes, and I'd buy, but only when these are reproduced at an affordable price.
Best clothes I've seen in all these FW.
12:36 PM on 03/10/2011
Great, wearable stuff!

Best thing I've seen all week.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
lrobb
Gold Standard = four paws and a tail
12:16 PM on 03/10/2011
Wow! Who knew "safe" was a compliment? Finally, clothing I might buy if someone copied it at less than $100 a pop.

Mabe Valentino actually wants to sell the clothing he designs.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
BlackYowe
I am a classical- liberal woman and a Jeweler.
12:13 PM on 03/10/2011
Great cloths!
11:04 AM on 03/10/2011
Beautiful clothes. What's wrong w/ being wearable?
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medulla oblongata
Your micro-bio wears combat boots
11:02 AM on 03/10/2011
Since when did wearable become "safe?"
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
johnnygoodwud
10:53 AM on 03/10/2011
normal looking outfits, in normal looking ladies, how refreshing.
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HUFFPOST COMMUNITY MODERATOR
alsm9
Bombshell
03:52 PM on 03/10/2011
They are the same models that are always on the runways.
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Sunflo
Leave a mark, not a stain.
10:35 AM on 03/10/2011
Gimme more safe!! I liked all of them except the gigantic fur coat-type thing.
10:59 AM on 03/10/2011
I loved the fur, I wore the same coat a few years back but it was Fendi...