By Iris Edén Santiago
Special to The Star
It was all about the earrings.
Shoulder-grazing chandelier earrings -- eye-catching, bold, huge -- accessorized almost every look in Valentino’s haute couture Fall Winter 2023-2024 collection. The earrings were worn by models parading in ultra sophisticated Red Carpet looks in shades of red, olive, emerald, gold, cobalt, lavender and periwinkle. The same earrings also elevated casual looks, like the embroidered pair of jeans (Levi’s 501, according to online reports) and crisp white shirt worn by Kaia Gerber, who opened the show at the grand fairytale chateau in Chantilly, France.
The ever fabulous white shirt, a staple for Carolina Herrera in countless glam looks, was featured big time by Valentino. And it has to be said, it was done very well. Another repetitive element, but equally charming and in different colors, bowed kitten heels and ballerina flats. Valentino’s creative director, Pierpaolo Piccioli, knows the way to a woman’s heart: girly shoes, glitter and earrings.
For Piccioli, more is more. And in that tone we must mention the variety of capes, stoles, coats and explosion of feathers complementing floral print ball gowns and metallic sheaths. We loved the strategic cutouts, the bubble dresses and the draped bodices. Valentino presented maxi dresses, mini dresses and barely there dresses. Also winning? Colorful suits for men.
In Pierpaolo Piccioli’s own words: “The strength of this collection is nothing but a paradox. What you see is not what it is, denim is made out of beads, draping is sculpted, feathers are made lighter (if this was even possible). Ateliers went beyond the definition of what is possible to do. They did something that is quite close to a magic trick.”