Tatler correspondent Rosana Lai shares all the glitzy details from Valentino’s spring/summer 2023 haute couture collection, Le Club Couture
As the fashion industry grapples with post-pandemic dressing in an increasingly uncertain economy, many are asking: “What is the place of haute couture today?”
With his latest haute couture offering, Valentino creative director Pierpaolo Piccioli suggests that the appetite lies somewhere between the desire for painstaking craftsmanship and to have a good time.
Set under Paris’ iconic Pont Alexandre III with the Eiffel Tower shimmering in the distance, the show aptly took place inside Bridge Club, an event and club space framed by stately arches. Models wove between them in a crescendo of glamorous silhouettes doused in Valentino’s punchy hues. Outsized bows adorned oversized tuxedo jackets, layers of tinsel sprung from a mini, bejewelled frock—each of the 89 looks dripped in sequins, sparkles, feathers, or all of the above. Even the most traditional ball gown boasted a plunging, hip-baring cut-out. A crowd favourite were the fluorescent coats that at first glance look like reflective shearling but are actually comprised of metallic tassels each attached by hand.
Read more: Designers take haute couture to the next level at Paris Couture Fashion Week