The creative director for Valentino, Pierpaolo Piccioli, on his mood board had various black Madonnas, artworks by contemporary artist Kerry James Marshall, photos from Ebony magazine and Franca Sozzani’s 2008 ‘Black Issue‘ of Italian Vogue. All that and more contributed inspiration for Mr Piccioli to create the ethereal Valentino Haute Couture Collection Spring 2019.
I certainly appreciated Mr Piccioli’s bold sweep of diversity with a stunning array of 45 black models and was captivated by the sumptuous gowns, rich painterly color palette and intricately detailed patterns. Mr Piccioli succinctly captured the collection’s essence…“To me couture is about dream and fantasy and the expression of individuality, and that means diversity. It’s not about a political message you put on a T-shirt and it’s not about streetwear or sportswear; it’s about how you look at the world.” From New York Times Style
Back in my world in jeans, a white t-shirt and a navy cashmere cardigan I’d worn all week his message resonated. I was drawn into the ‘dream and fantasy’ as this haute couture collection transported me for a few moments to a world where women live a goddess-like existence that actually requires dressing in couture. Here are the looks I just loved - as if...
Photography Valerio Mazzenotti & Gio Staiano
