COMPLETE COLLECTION DETAILS

PARIS, January 20, 2003

By Sarah Mower

No doubt about it: women adore Valentino. When it comes to the big night in the spotlight, modern starlets flock to put themselves in the hands of the maestro. And why not? Nothing is cooler than old-school expertise when timeless femininity, refinement and sheer gorgeousness are on the agenda.

Come the next round of red-carpet events, expect to see the girls competing for first dibs on Valentino’s Indian-inspired Spring couture collection. Options include a slew of ladylike white day suits, some with draped satin inserted at the torso, others with finely pleated flippy skirts. For early evening, it could be something from a group of Nehru coats, done with three-quarter sleeves, slim, precise pants and a delicate inner piece of barely there beaded chiffon. Drama queens, meanwhile, are spoiled for choice. Will it be the signature red waterfall gown, the sugared-almond pink with the crisscrossed violet ribbon or the pearl-gray satin with a covering of silver lace? Let the battle commence.