Valentino Spring 2015 Haute Couture

Art, poetry, culture and craft wove a common thread through Maison Valentino’s Spring 2015 collection, in which beauty and artisanship were decidedly eternal, and in some cases ethereal. As expected design duo Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pierpaolo Picciolo kept the overall vibe romantic and put the custom hand-detailing emphasis into Haute Couture week, with a collection that spoke to the design house’s revered heritage. Opening with looks that mixed folklore and fine art, alpine florals met baroque collars and cuffs and embroidery was everywhere. With hair crowned in loose braids tucked with wildflowers, skin left dewey and eyes wide, models channeled natural beauty of Botticelli’s Primavera, letting the intricacy of the ensembles resonate.

Lush patterns effortlessly blended Northern and Eastern European traditions with references to the Abstract Expressionists and Surrealists, with the aesthetics of Marc Chagall and Joan Miró coming more clearly into focus as the show progressed. Poetic references were also embodied quite literally, with the words of literary legends Shakespeare, Dante Alighieri, and Pier Paolo Pasolini embroidered across showstopping gowns, floating down the runway in a celestial show of tulles, lace and cloudscapes. The final looks were nothing less than a dreamscape, and we’re not sure we want to wake up just yet.