Giambattista Valli’s haute couture collection was the final showing of the day and it found the designer in typically flowery – that’s extremely flowery – frame of mind.

On a catwalk covered in plump ivory carpet and winding their way through a series of antique sculptures clad in nothing but garlands of waxy blooms, models wore the quintessentially feminine clothing this name is known for. Valli clearly has a certain type of femininity in mind, however, and it’s unlikely ever to make an appearance at the average workplace.

Organaza coats loosely following a mid-Twentieth Century couture line came trimmed with white roses at collars and cuffs. Goddess dresses in silk chiffon were boldly printed with more of that same flower only in deepest red. There was a spray of neon blossom at the shoulder of a cocktail dress here, what appeared to be an entire bouquet inserted into a neck line there.

It’s fair to say that, overall, little attention was paid to anything as banal as practicalities.It is, after all, the autumn/winter season but it would be nothing short of futile to brave the elements in such whimsical confections.

Add to the mix full-bouncing ballerina skirts and floor-sweeping trains aplenty and the collection was, instead, an unabashed flight of fancy – no holds barred.