Alessandra Facchinetti on Wednesday described her first haute couture collection for Valentino as ''a couture for wearing'' shortly before its presentation at a Paris Fashion Week catwalk show.
''I am continuing here what I started with the Valentino pret-a-porter collection: once again, there is no frantic search for trend,'' said the designer, who took over as head of Valentino's women's collections last September.
''It's a couture without theatricality, which cares about functionality - something clothes should always have.
''Valentino was a master of that. But there's nothing nostalgic in my approach,'' she underlined.
The designer said she had taken inspiration from romanticism, Flemish Baroque artist Anthony Van Dyck and the sculptures of modern British artist Henry Moore.
''There's a lunar aspect of femininity, from make-up to the roundness of forms,'' she added.
Facchinetti's models will strut the catwalk with bare legs and make-up that highlights a rosy pallor.
''It's unusual, a bit anachronistic, but it shows the need for calm, for time, for self-nurturing,'' she explained.
Facchinetti said she would begin meeting clients from Thursday and added that she saw a healthy future for haute couture.
''People who say haute couture has no future are mistaken. We have many clients who ask for new designs and ideas for daywear, even beyond what we propose on the catwalk.
''And there's a whole new clientele among the new generation and in the emerging markets,'' she added.
Facchinetti's first pret-a-porter catwalk show for Valentino at Paris Fashion Week in February got the thumbs up from the fashion house's old guard.
Although Valentino, who retired last year, was not present for the parade, his long-term business partner Giancarlo Giammetti said he was ''happy'' with the direction taken by Facchinetti.
Fashion icon Valentino, 76, presented his final haute couture collection in Paris in January, the swansong of an extraordinary career spent dressing the world's most beautiful and famous women.
Facchinetti, 35, is the daughter of Roby Facchinetti, leader of the timeless ½ûÂþÌìÌà rock band Pooh, and sister of rapper DJ Francesco.
She was head of women's design at Gucci for two years, following the departure of Tom Ford, and has also designed collections for Moncler 'Gamme Rouge'.
