Valentino F/W 08.09 Paris

It seems only yesterday that Valentino was waving goodbye in a tide of red dresses. Alessandra Facchinetti made her debut Thursday as the company’s new designer, and there could not have been a tougher crowd to please than the court gathered at the Palais de Chaillot.

Ruffles, bows and flaming red dresses -- the signature touches Valentino made his own over decades -- all made their appearance, together with modern twists of volume skirts and sleek black suiting.