Arguably, no other luxury fashion maison is having as impactful of a moment this season as Valentino. After a visually breathtaking autumn/winter 2022 runway show earlier this year, the Pink PP collection has now made its presence known in Valentino boutiques — thanks to the use of a singular, Pantone-approved shade of pink.
Founder Valentino Garavani’s legacy may have been in his signature use of red, yet the collection proves that legacies can be expanded and evolved; legacies are not merely restricted to a single element.
To understand the foundations of the 63-year-old maison, one needs to chart its evolution over the years from its beginnings with Garavani, until present-day creative director Pierpaolo Piccioli. Forever Valentino is poised to do just that.
In collaboration with Qatar Creates — an annual celebration and promotion of the Arts within the capital — and Qatar Museums, Forever Valentino is a major exhibition that’s curated to pay homage to Garavani (the founder turned 90 this year) and the maison’s still evolving haute couture heritage. While the focus will largely be on the maison’s haute couture codes, Forever Valentino will also include ready-to-wear fashion, accessories and other fashion objects to exemplify the breadth of the maison.
Forever Valentino is curated by Massimiliano Gioni, the artistic director of the New Museum New York, as well as fashion critic and author Alexander Fury, with Piccioli working closely with the two. It’s designed to be a panoramic view of Valentino’s history and its ties to Rome, with scenography built to reflect that relationship. From recreations of the palazzos, squares and courtyards of the city to the more intimate spaces of the Valentino ateliers of Piazza Mignanelli, viewers will be treated to an in-depth look at the maison like never before.
Over 200 haute couture and ready-to-wear pieces will be on display, effectively making Forever Valentino the biggest Valentino exhibition yet. Creations on display include rarely seen pieces specifically designed for legendary figures the likes of Elizabeth Taylor, Jacqueline Kennedy as well as contemporary fashion icons such as Zendaya.
What’s even more impressive is that the exhibition will also include ensembles from the private collection of Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, the consort of the former Emir of Qatar, and a longstanding client of the maison. Not only does this showcase a collection of an actual client, but also how the maison adapts to more modest needs — a true representation of haute couture excellence.
Forever Valentino opens 28 October 2022 at the M7 in Doha, Qatar.
