Valentino's Garden Collection

Valentino's latest collection is based on a "fantasy garden".

The Italian label's creative directors, Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pier Paolo Piccioli, impressed critics with their "gorgeous" Spring/Summer 2010 collection - which included floaty ice cream- hued minidresses and edgy leather jackets - and say they want to move on from the red carpet outfits the label is known for.

Maria said: "Women today are different. It is a new direction for Valentino; it is cooler and more modern. Very 'uptown goes downtown.'

"We wanted our collection to be like taking a stroll in a fantasy garden, where dresses blossom into nocturnal flowers and vibrant flower petals are shaken by an imaginary breeze. We were inspired by an emotion or a dream. We are constantly working on evolving our new vision. We have a concept of individual beauty; a string woman who is confident and almost dangerous; the protagonist of a mysterious fairytale."

Valentino - who famously dressed Julia Roberts when she won her Best Actress Oscar in 2001 - stepped down as the fashion house's creative director in 2008 at the age of 75.

Although the role seemed impossible to fill, Maria and Pier - who had already spent 10 years as the label's accessories designers - have impressed with their collections.