The Giambattista Valli x H&M Collaboration Is Finally Available for Purchase
It feels like we've been waiting ages to purchase the Giambattista Valli x H&M collaboration. To be fair, it has been 167 days since Kendall Jenner teased the collab on the red carpet. I've personally been in countdown mode waiting for the glamorous designs to launch in stores. And that day has finally come: On November 7 at 10 a.m. ET, the collab finally launches online.
I think it'll be worth the wait, because The Giambattista Valli x H&M collaboration is already one of my faves. The romantic tulle dresses are enough to make anyone feel like a real-life princess, but the pearl-embellished hoodies and oversize leather jackets also made me gasp as I watched models elegantly stride down the runway during the collection's fashion show in Rome. The dreamy presentation took place in one of the Italian capital's most breathtaking palaces, the Palazzo Doria Pamphilj.
Celebs traveled from all around the world to see the Giambattista Valli x H&M collection in person. Sofia Carson, Alexa Demie, and H.E.R. are just a few of the big names who sat front row as Jenner opened the show in a bubblegum-pink gown cinched at the waist with a matching bow. Out of all of the stars in attendance, Halima Aden seemed to be especially pumped to shop the pieces when they debut.
"I’m really excited for the collab with Giambattista because he has created some of my favorite red-carpet looks," Aden told InStyle while getting ready for the fashion show. "I still can’t believe I’m going to be able to wear his work tonight." Aden, who had just arrived to her hotel room, would only be in Rome for about six hours that night before flying off to another gig in another country, but you'd never be able to tell she was jetlagged thanks to her electrifying energy and enthusiasm. "Any time I’m feeling tired, I just take a minute and look at where my life is going," Aden says. "The hard parts have always been outweighed by the good things. I mean, who gets to get their makeup and nails done for work?"
Aden has been inspiring women around the world as the first hijab-wearing model to walk several major fashion shows and the first woman to wear a burkini in Sports Illustrated's swimsuit issue. But Aden isn't resting on her laurels. "Thinking of new ways to inspire the girls in my community is tough," says Aden. "I know I could always be doing better and more. So I’m always thinking, what else can I tackle? What else could I do so the girls could see that they don’t have to change to fit into an industry?"
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Taking those risks isn't always easy for the 22-year-old model. "That [Sports Illustrated photoshoot] was really scary for me because I didn’t know how others would react," she says. "I didn’t know if people were going to think, ok this is a bit much or if it would inspire girls to take swimming classes and compete in sports wearing a burkini."
Aden also puts a lot of thought into keep her hijabs looking fresh. "My fans are always like, 'We want to see a new turban style.' They love that so much," she says. "I've worn Chanel pants on my head. I’ve done it all at this point." And Aden says hair scarves aren't just for Muslim women. "Think of it like your black dress or your favorite nude heels. I think every girl should have a head scarf, honestly," she says. "Scarves are not exclusive to Muslim women who want to be more modest. Girls should play around and have fun. That’s the one rule: have fun with it."
During the Giambattista Valli x H&M runway show, Aden gave us a beautiful style lesson in mixing prints with a Giambattista x Valli leaf-print dress and a floral scarf. I'm sure we'll see so many other stars wearing the collection now that it's finally available for purchase.
