Try Not to Fall in Love With These Valentino Creations

Highlighting the link between fashion and art, Valentino creative directors Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pierpalo Piccioli referenced everything from pop to folk, landscapes, and abstract.

The accessories were part of the picture; stained glass informed knee-high patchwork boots, and mod polka-dot options would add more than a pop of color to any ensemble.

Celestial embroidery culminated the show and adorned a navy gown that you couldn't help but love (and not only for its striking red heart motif).

Their Spring 2014 creations were covered with the motifs and messages of a variety of imagined tribes.

That meant lots of embroidery and decoration, but the collection never looked overworked.

The designers' masterful handling of materials, colors, and patterns has brought a great deal of newness to Valentino.

For Fall 2013, the designers turned to the old Flemish master painters for inspiration. It's what gave them the idea to create prints based on old Delft pottery.

Going a less literal route, scallops referenced their renaissance inspiration.

It also inspired the high collars and cuffs seen in the collection.

This collection was all about revisiting the brand's roots as a maker of breathtakingly beautiful clothing.

To inject a little modern flair, the designers added in a few of their new signature studs.

But because they were going back to the archives, so to speak, this collection also featured plenty of Valentino red.

Fall 2012 saw the designers experiment with a mix of international references.

The clothing blended everything from traditional Greek costumes to Aran sweaters but left plenty of room for glamorous gowns like this one.

As ever, embroidery was an important element of this collection.

This collection gave audiences the sense that they were in an enchanted garden.

The designers were sure to work in Valentino's signature shade of red.

But they also experimented with other colors, like this periwinkle.

Embellishment came back in Fall 2011.

This shirt and skirt, for example, were festooned with flowers.

But the designers know when to let a single material stand out on its own, as they did with this leather coat.

Spring 2011 brought more ruffles, but it also brought a sense of airy lightness.

Many of the clothes had a sheer element or were cut from fabrics that looked like they could float on a gentle breeze.

That feeling extended from short dresses to full-length gowns.

For Fall 2010, the twosome took one of Valentino's major codes — the ruffle — and made it look modern.

They also continued their experiments with lace.

This collection marked the introduction of what would become one of the house's bestselling accessories and one of its most valuable motifs: the rockstud shoe.

The designers quickly established themselves as masters of the dramatic gesture.

The same can be said for romantic draping, modeled here by a young Karlie Kloss.

Lacework featured heavily in Spring 2010.

The first ready-to-wear collection played up Valentino's penchant for unbridled glamour with pieces like this simple, sumptuous column dress.

This luxurious, sparkly coat trimmed with fur was also a stunner.

Fur also popped up on the sleeves of this jacket and in other places throughout the collection.