H&M announce Giambattista Valli as their new designer collaboration – and limited edition dresses are dropping this Saturday

Swoon!

Swedish budget fashion giant H&M have long been doing the most amazing designer collaboration, making fashion from brands such as Stella McCartney, Kenzo, Mochino and Karl Lagerfeldt etc. available to those of us whose budgets do not stretch to the real deal. And earlier today, at the amfAR gala in Cannes, it was announced on both the brand's social media accounts that H&M's latest designer collaboration is none other than couture fashion house Giambattista Valli. And so if you are in the market for a stunner of a red carpet gown – or even designer wedding dress – this is your chance. Officially, the Giambattista Valli x H&M, #Project collection will launch worldwide on November 7th this year, but this Saturday, a limited edition of dresses will be available online and in 12 selected flagship stores. According to H&M, the collection includes an array of frothy tulle gowns and cocktail dresses, including a statement bubble gum pink flared tulle dress that will retail for €249, and is described online as the designer's “iconic babydoll dress that perfectly balances prettiness with a savvy attitude”. Another stunner of a gown is the ‘The Plush Peach’ a blush pink dress bearing Giambattista Valli's signature mullet-hem silhouette with a dramatic train and a ruffle top for €299. Speaking of the collection, Valli said in the brand’s promo video: “I’m glad to announce to you an exciting collaboration with H&M. I’m from Rome, but I moved to Paris because I was dreaming of building up a proper haute couture Maison. Couture is the art of making beautiful fabrics and experimenting. It’s the freedom of bringing, like, a dream into reality. I’m totally excited to see what is going to happen with collaboration and all the love stories that are going to start all around the world.” This marks the first time that H&M has done a pre-drop for its designer collaborations, and includes an array of frothy tulle gowns and cocktail dresses, including a statement bubble gum pink flared tulle dress for 229.99 pounds, featuring six layers of “airy tulle give the full-flounced skirt extra lift and volume”. On H&M’s website, they describe it as the designer's “iconic babydoll dress that perfectly balances prettiness with a savvy attitude”.   The Giambattista Valli x H&M collection also includes a selection of menswear, as well as jewellery, a hairband, sandals and studded loafers. Ann-Sofie Johansson, H&M’s Creative Advisor, accompanied Valli and his models at the gala earlier and spoke to Vogue about their latest collaboration: “Giambattista is really a master when it comes to beauty and glamour and sophistication, we’re really happy to be working with him,” Johansson explained. “We always want to have different takes on the collaborations. This is different compared to Mochine last year. It’s the first time we’re working with someone doing couture.” The Giambattista Valli x H&M pre-collection collection will be available in 12 select H&M stores and hm.com from May 25 at 8am, followed by a full collection in November.