Fantasy fashion for the real world
REDValentino strikes the perfect balance between extravagance and practicality, with an ultra-versatile spring collection that will elevate both your style and mood
Valentino is synonymous with craftsmanship, femininity and elegance. So, fans of the Italian house’s main collection will appreciate the ultra-romantic direction in which creative director Pierpaolo Piccioli is steering its sister line REDValentino this season. Each piece from the spring 2020 collection has a lightness and grace that lends a couture-like feel to day and eveningwear. RED (which stands for Romantic Eccentric Dress, as well as nodding to the company’s trademark vermillion hue) takes the main line’s distinct sophistication and instils it with a cool and playful sensibility.
This time around, the spring collection was showcased against the pink backdrop of Valentino’s India Mahdavi-designed flagship store in Rome, a decision that perfectly complemented the neat knitwear in sherbet shades and fairytale-like, sheer point d’esprit skirts and dresses that defined the collection. These are pieces designed to add an element of fun and fantasy to our everyday ensembles while also slotting neatly into our existing wardrobes, working with everything from leather biker jackets to decadent evening capes.
Take the pastel-lemon midi skirt, made from layers of frothy tulle lined with satin and embellished with clusters of light-catching glitter – it will instantly inject a little joy into your closet. Just don’t mistake it for a party piece – this versatile number will reinvigorate your office wear, too. Temper its playful undertones by pairing it with a grey cashmere knit and simple black ballet flats. Then, to take it out on the town, style it with the collection’s ruffled, yellow pointelle-knit sweater, which is threaded with a fine gold to elegantly catch the light when you hit the dance floor. Offset it with white strappy sandals and fine gold jewellery.
Piccioli is renowned for being a master of contrast, so to counterbalance any saccharine nuances, he added a touch of dark romance to the collection, with black looks that conjured a seductive spirit. One standout pleated and ruffled dress is artfully constructed: cut from delicate tulle, from afar it appears to have a cute polka-dot pattern, but up close you see it is actually intricately embroidered with tiny flowers. Cinch it at the waist and add a further graphic element with the matching white grosgrain ribbon. For a more subtle finish, swap in the black ribbon instead and pair it with matching black barely-there sandals.
The brand founder, Valentino Garavani, famously dressed style icons such as Sophia Loren, Audrey Hepburn and Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis in the ’60s and ’70s. And it will come as no surprise that, nowadays, both the main line and RED are just as beloved by A-list stars, from Emma Watson to Nicole Kidman. Channel these discerning dressers next time you slip on a chic REDValentino design.