Camille Belle in Valentino

W-O-W. That was the reaction I had when I saw my friend Camilla Belle arrive at The Art of Elysium’s benefit gala over the weekend. Not only was her striking updo very Jackie-O a la Camelot, but this fashion-forward actress looked like walking art in this Valentino ensemble (dress, shoes and clutch). Valentino has struggled to renew its identity since its namesake designer retired in 2008 but it finally looks like new creative directors Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pier Paolo Piccioli are showing lots of promise as they forge a new path. Belle’s chiffon capelet dress with full skirt and bow detail is straight off the Spring 2010 runway and is ethereal at its utter best. I like that the jewelry–in this case, Cartier–was kept to a minimum, allowing the fluid lines of the dress to serve its purpose. Admittedly, this is not a look that every woman can pull off, but it’s also not as experimental as it initially appears. This dress features a prominent portrait collar, which means your makeup has to be of utmost brilliance to complete this look. The clutch in matching hue fits perfectly, as do the tough gladiator heels with flower detail. Guys and gals: keep your eye on this fashion ingénue. What do you think?