Independence vital to Valli amid haute couture success

Milan

GIAMBATTISTA Valli says his fledgling ready-to-wear line is thriving - thanks to spillover synergy from a haute couture operation that has made him a darling of the celebrity A-list set.

The Paris-based Roman designer has made his name with spectacularly beautiful and eye-wateringly expensive made-to-measure creations for the likes of singer Rihanna, George Clooney's wife Amal and, most recently, actress Emma Stone, who wowed this month's Venice film festival in one of his dresses.