Pretty Cool

When the REDValentino team set about designing its SS19 collection, it was Mexico that really sparked their imagination. In particular, the country’s strong, fiery spirit – an attitude that chimes neatly with the playful, independent vibe of the label. The Italian fashion house has a knack for taking the prettiest of pieces and infusing them with a youthful cool, giving them a perfect blend of elegance and energy.

There’s a duality to the REDValentino woman: she’s rebellious but romantic, impossible to pin down. Needless to say, the label’s focus is the idea of personal expression: these are clothes that are made to be worn however you see fit rather than head to toe as prescribed. Case in point: the pretty embroidered tulle dresses that pepper the collection, which you might assume are a natural fit for a chic pair of heels, are given an unexpectedly understated spin when styled with go-faster fly-knit sneakers or flat utilitarian sandals. The idea is to cherry-pick your favorite pieces and mix them everything, from tried-and-tested go-tos to treasures hunted down in far-flung locations.

The label’s aesthetic is unashamedly feminine. Right now that translates into a swathe of pretty dresses that cover all the bases, from work-appropriate to elevated occasion dressing. The sheer tulle dress, black and covered in colorful embroidery, is darkly romantic and elegantly statement-making, and just the thing to reach for when a wedding or party calls. For day-to-day, there are equally sophisticated but more lo-fi options like the clean and chic white cotton maxi dress with its black trim and ruffled shoulders, a black tunic with white-trimmed collar and pussy-bow tie, or a wear-anywhere white jersey midi dress.

There are plenty of separates to play with, too: frothy tulle skirts ripe for dressing up with a luxe top or down with a much-loved T-shirt, and blouses that will be as chic with a pair of jeans as a polished skirt. There’s a black jumpsuit that will shape up to be one of the hardest-working pieces in your wardrobe; the perfect blend of relaxed and refined, it will rotate through your work and off-duty looks with ease. And your vacation wardrobe is ticked off courtesy of mini tailored shorts, gently ruffled tops and easy-breezy cotton dresses ripe for throwing over your favorite bikini. It’s the ultimate summer line-up. Which, we can all agree, is pretty cool.