Louis Vuitton headed to Japan, Dior took on the West, and then Valentino staged its Cruise 2018 show at the very heart of the Big Apple, as a nod to the urban chic metropolitan vibe of New York.

It was indeed Pierpaolo Piccioli’s second Pre-Collection he runs in New York as a solo designer and it was nothing short of a true Valentino work of art. Models flooded the runway channeling a sporty-chic nostalgia, full of the joys of tracksuits, hood-ied dresses, sweatshirts and the moniker floaty gowns. The sport-luxe references painted a canvas worthy of the ever-so metropolitan New York, exploring new territories and sumptuous cuts. There were zip-ups, floral patterns and pleated skirts. There were cut-out dresses merging quite delicately with the Maison’s heritage. And yes, there were relaxed numbers such as jersey dresses, pullovers and wide-legged denims creating a sporty trance and a lively show. The simplicity of the collection went to a new level as models were spotted sporting athletic socks with strappy sandals at times, and slides and tongs at other times. But perhaps the most eye-grabbing phenomena was the vivid color palette that was eschewing so many bright and bold hues.

The star-studded front row was filled with the likes of Maggie Gyllenhaal, Christina Ricci and Helena Christensen, all of whom reveled in Valentino’s innovative persona. After all, isn’t it Valentino’s forte to enrapture us in a constantly-evolving new approach?

Cindy Menassa