Photographed in Rome’s Orto Botanico, the colorful and couture-inspired pieces in the Valentino Resort 2020 collection shone like rare fruit among giant palms and picturesque bamboo forests. According to creative director Pierpaolo Piccioli, this collection was not about escape, as resort collections often are. He aimed to create a wardrobe with a wealth of options for everyday wear, and this elegant simplicity is key to the appeal of Piccioli’s exuberant designs.

In this way, the restraint of this collection mirrors that of the restraint of a lush garden stuck in the middle of a bustling city, with no possible option for expansion. It is a contained wilderness, which is something these gorgeous clothes can create within us. Feathers adorn jackets, hot pink details bubble up from the core, and sharp dresses are paired with carefree sandals- hints of unabashed joy shine through the pared down exterior of this collection, creating something insanely wearable, yet still exotic and enchanting.

While the clothes themselves are definitely nice to look at, the plants are what drew me in. Lately it seems like plants are having their own renaissance, as more people begin to cultivate them inside of their homes in vast quantities, covering nearly every surface with them. Even I have begun to fill my home with little, leafy friends, adopting the mentality that you can never have too many. My Instagram feed has become overgrown with scenes of lush greenery, so much so that my own posts would blend into the imagery of this collection (is Pierpaolo stealing my thunder?).

Adding a ton of plants to your living space has recently become a huge trend in interior design. Honestly, I think it looks amazing! (Photos: @wildrepose on Instagram.)

By surrounding ourselves with all manner of foliage, we try to cultivate our own bit of the wild, a slice of nature to remind us of our roots. I could never get tired of looking at plants. They exude liveliness and have a calming effect on the soul, as if to remind us that the world we inhabit is alive, whether we like it or not. All of this to say, if you want to get me a gift, go with a plant and it will never disappoint!

Check out some of my favorite looks from the collection below:

All images of Valentino Resort 2020 are from Vogue.com.