Valentino
Designers: Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pierpaolo Piccioli

• “Using the Flemish masters as a starting point, designers Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pierpaolo Piccioli delivered a more varied silhouette than last season in vase, trapeze, tulip and column-shaped. It was a welcome change.” [AP]
• “The imaginative duo deftly translated the 16th and 17th century romance onto their runway with a cacophony of smart babydoll dresses laced with leather embroidered collars or scalloped dickies and exquisite macramé floral frocks.” [Daily Front Row]
• “Was it very Valentino? Absolutely. But Valentino on its own terms.” [FT.com]
• “‘Magical realism’ began the show notes, and true that was.” [The Independent]
• “On Tuesday, the penultimate day of the autumn 2013 collections and after four weeks of shows across two continents and in four cities, there needs to be a moment of reflection. And it came today at the Valentino show.” [International Herald Tribune]
• “Quality came through as well in the austere lines at Valentino, though sometimes without a real human feeling.” [The New York Times]
• “The hits just keep on coming from the Valentino house. Designers Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pierpaolo Piccioli’s fall/winter 2013 collection was pitch perfect in its exploration of youthful innocence that was both serene and sophisticated at the same time.” [NOWFASHION]
• “Even shoppers who didn’t major in art history will find things to appreciate and love in this offering.” [POPSUGAR Fashion]
• “Of course the gowns and dresses were stunning–we’ve come to expect nothing less from those two–but this collection signalled an evolution for the brand. There was new here and that had mainly to do with the shorter lengths and more austere silhouettes.” [SHOWstudio]
• “There were gowns galore, many of unsurpassed beauty, and some too beautiful not to bring up. We’re thinking especially of the Delft-inspired embroideries and a shorter Delft-like knit. But to prattle on describing them would be to defeat the point. They weren’t the news; the austere grace was.” [Style.com]
• “When this duo apply decoration to their austere silhouettes, there is no stopping them, and they are capable of some of the most exquisite work outside the haute couture.” [Vogue.com]
• “Snow White, Red Riding Hood and Alice in Wonderland–they were all on the Valentino catwalk this afternoon for a collection that was a fairytale told in dresses.” [Vogue.com UK]
• “Valentino’s fabulous fashion nun.” [Wmagazine.com]
• “It was hard to miss the irony as a clash of photographers jousted for their ‘portraits’ of Nicole Richie and Frank Ocean sitting front row at the show.” [WWD]