'Fashion is not art,' believes Valentino’s creative director Pierpaolo Piccioli. 'Fashion always has a practical scope while art is an end in itself.'
For its autumn winter couture showcase, Valentino brings to the runway color and motion making and ultimately sublime presentation. Pierpaolo Piccoli, the Italian luxury label's creative director, pays homage to the city of Venice with the house's latest couture line
Dubbed as "Des Ateliers," the collection also shows the connection between fashion and art. As many know, haute couture is pretty much a wearable art form. But according to the label, "fashion is linked to the body and to movement. Art, however, is completely free from constraint." Through the collection, Valentino merges the two together—the beauty of art and the experience of dressing.
Adding a youthful flair to high fashion, Pierpaolo collaborated with 16 contemporary artists. And just like witnessing a white light passing through a prism, Venice's Gaggiandre, Arsenale is painted with a multitude of colors as Valentino's 82 creations parade on the runway. Soft suiting, artsy dresses, and playful silhouettes set the tone for the runway show. While the feathered hats (by Philip Treacy), textured coats, sculptural pieces, and grand ball gowns are definitely invitations to fantasy.
Watch Valentino's "Des Ateliers" runway show here: