Italian fashion house Valentino and Pierpaolo Piccioli, after 25 years He announced that he was parting ways.
It has been 25 years since Pierpaolo Piccioli left Fendi together with Maria Grazia Chiuri in 1999 and joined Valentino as an accessory designer. After Valentino Garavani ‘s retirement in 2008, the duo became the creative director of the brand and carried out successful works together until Chiuri moved to Dior in 2016. When we look at the collections of Pierpaolo Piccioli , who has been sitting alone in the creative director chair since Chiuri ‘s departure, the designer’s farewell to Valentino signals the end of an era.
We wouldn’t be wrong to say that Piccioli brought the brand into a new and more modern era while paying homage to the sophisticated legacy of Valentino Garavani . The designer’s inclusive and diverse perspective has brought the brand to the forefront in every field, from brand ambassadors to model selection. By creating a Valentino collection called Di.Vas , which represents different values and defends human rights, the designer worked with stars such as Lewis Hamilton, Zendaya and BTS band member Suga in the campaigns, and brought together successful names in their fields around the same goal.
Piccioli, who included men’s looks in a haute couture collection for the first time in Valentino’s history for the 2021 Spring/Summer season, defied the rules and brought male and female models to the same show. While combining the feminine aspect of traditional couture with masculine tailoring mastery, he defined couture as a tool to reflect his own beliefs and the values he represented. The 2022-23 Haute Couture fashion show, held at Rome’s iconic Spanish Steps, was undoubtedly one of the most resounding shows in Valentino history. Black models and men wearing feminine designs in the show called “The Beginning”, which was brought to life in the fascinating atmosphere of historical steps, referred to social changes.
New colors were added to Valentino ‘s signature red color palette under the direction of Pierpaolo Piccioli . The colorful world behind Piccioli ‘s style consisting of black t-shirts, trousers and white sneakers turned pink with the 2022-23 Autumn/Winter fashion show. High-platform shoes, which complemented monochrome designs in which bows, ruffles, petals, lace and embroidery played the leading role, reflected Piccioli ‘s experimental approach. The bright pink tone, which pioneered the Barbiecore trend that was created in collaboration with Pantone and spread all over the world, drew attention far beyond the clothes, showcasing bold silhouettes and details.
While it is a matter of curiosity who will replace Piccioli , who brought an innovative and young stance to Valentino with his vision, Alessandro Michele and Maria Grazia Chiuri are among the talked about names.