Paradoxical Parables: Valentino's Men's SS24 Collection Transforms the Norms of Masculine Dressing
MILAN FASHION WEEK
MILAN - Valentino's Creative Director Pierpaolo Piccioli took an alternate path, seeking to offer a fresh definition of masculine elegance with a romantic, contemporary twist.
8 MINS READ TIME
Words By RICHARD O’NEAL
Photography COURTESY OF VALENTINO
The SS24 collection, dubbed "The Narratives," is a symbolic journey that uses fashion as a narrative device to deconstruct and reshape the typical masculine dress code. Taking traditional tailoring as a starting point, Piccioli ingeniously steers the collection in an unprecedented direction, introducing embroidered floral details, meticulously crafted shapes, and a selection of sophisticated Valentino Garavani accessories. The flower serves as a graphic embellishment and symbolizes a shift in the paradigm of masculinity. Pinned to the garments, these blooms are a silent yet eloquent rebuttal against the harsh structures of traditional men's wear, aiming to forge a new understanding of masculine aesthetic that allows for softer, more nuanced expressions of identity.
Piccioli's keen eye for detail and superior craftsmanship extends to the Valentino Eyewear collection in collaboration with Akoni Group. The XXII sunglasses, rendered in black acetate, feature a classic rectangular frame that brings a refined boldness, echoing the confident ethos of the overall collection.
Bags are also essential to the SS24 collection, spotlighting the artful blend of Valentino's iconic motifs and materials. The show revealed the Porter bags, dressed in Toile Iconographe, and the Valentino Garavani Locò Bag in nylon, thus fortifying Maison's reputation for innovative use of materials.
In line with Piccioli's vision, formality is stripped of its customary stiffness and delivered humanely. Time-honored staples appear in conventional and unexpected hues, fostering a unique dialogue between tradition and modernity.
Shoes remain an integral part of the story, with various designs debuting. Among these, sleek, studded loafers and assertive combat boots dominate the narrative, bolstered by a new technical shoe drawing inspiration from the running world, attesting to the fluidity of the line between sportswear and high fashion.
Piccioli's SS24 collection, in its essence, is a blend of paradoxes, a contradiction that is at once harmonious and startling. It's a celebration of masculine sensitivity and a testament to the new age where fashion transcends conventional boundaries, mirroring society's evolving perception of masculinity.
A significant shift, as embodied in Valentino's SS24 collection, suggests that the future of menswear lies not in the rigidity of established norms but in the realm of individual expression and the courage to seek out unexplored territories. This narrative of paradoxes makes Valentino's latest collection a memorable milestone in the Maison's illustrious history.
