Valentino Garavani is here
From playful pops of color to sleekly minimalist black, Pierpaolo Piccioli’s Valentino Garavani Resort 2020 collection has it all
It comes as little surprise that Pierpaolo Piccioli started his career at Valentino, heading up its accessories department alongside Maria Grazia Chiuri, before his appointment as creative director. Two decades on, the house’s highly coveted bags and cult-status shoes continue to seduce with their exquisite craftsmanship and unique designs.
For Cruise 2020, Piccioli’s accessories neatly encapsulate the escapist sensibility and real-world wearability that defined the collection. While the resort season itself was originally conceived to cater to mid-season travels to different climates, it has evolved into a key moment on the fashion calendar that speaks to a global audience through a trans-seasonal aesthetic. At Valentino, this meant seasonless swishy midi skirts, silk blouses and printed mini dresses that are just as appropriate in a city office as they are at a chic soiree in a far-flung destination.
The most crucial variable this season is the accessories, Valentino Garavani. For those living in or jetting to warmer climates, give these pieces a sunshine-ready spin by swapping your trusty ankle boots for Valentino’s minimalist black sandals emboldened with the brand’s elegant V logo in gold hardware. For anyone residing in cooler climes seeking to inject a vacay vibe into their city uniform, the leather shoulder bag in a soft cornflower blue will instantly call to mind the unique hue of cloudless skies; wear it with neutral or all-black tailoring for a subtle pop of color. For something with even more whimsy, the playful, peacock-patterned bag is like a shot of sartorial serotonin, with its bold shades of plum and fuchsia. Wear it with a sleek shirtdress or loose tailoring in beige or cream to add intrigue to a minimalist ensemble. For a more maximalist evening look, match it to a dark purple gown to offset its vibrant palette.
“The house’s highly coveted bags and cult-status shoes continue to seduce with their exquisite craftsmanship and unique designs
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Those who often travel to different climates for work will adore the jet-black shoulder bag. Tuck it neatly into your carry-on for the perfect finishing touch to precision tailoring, or to add polish to louche linen tailoring when you’re going from a business meeting to a beach bar. Doubling up as the perfect cocktail bag, it’s an ideal accompaniment to an evening LBD, too.
Renowned for his acute eye for detail and ultra-romantic aesthetic, Piccioli’s chicly feminine designs have amassed a broad but dedicated following. His dresses are a red-carpet mainstay, and his bags have become an enduring presence on the streets, often spotted on the arms of everyone from Angelina Jolie to Jessica Alba. Meanwhile, his shoes are just as sought after and have become a perennial presence on the Paris Fashion Week front row and beyond.
When designing his collections, Piccioli often plunders the substantial picture archive of Valentino Garavani looks, discovering photos of models and actresses from the late ’60s and ’70s and pinning them up on his mood board. The inspiration he gleans from this era can clearly be seen in the laid-back ’70s mood and retro-tinged aesthetic that permeates each piece in the cruise collection. Wherever you wear them, embrace this dual sense of ease and decadence.
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