VALENTINO unveiled its Spring Summer 2023 campaign, that celebrates individuality, captured by fashion photographer Steven Meisel.
The Unboxing Valentino collection
Pureness as a conscious synthesis, the intentional removal of what exceeds. It is subtraction, not absence. The creative process keeps track of what was taken away. It leads to the essential, with all the tension of implication. Those empty spaces are not lack of content. They declare personal choices. In those omissions, in those allusions, lays the depth of identity. Cuts and transparencies reveal the persona. At the same time, many layers become none. Multitude becomes one. An oxymoron allows the reset of all abundances.
When having reached their highest level, emotions find ease. Clarity arises from a new consciousness. Nowness takes shape. Real people make things easier. They put the extraordinary in a familiar frame. A similar shift translates the language of Couture in the ready-to-wear alphabet. Bustiers evolve into undershirts, gowns into sweatshirts. Tailoring destinates the same space to different proportions. Unboxing an image means unboxing an idea. Get rid of the structure and you will see what’s inside.
In charge of art direction was Riccardo Zanola, with styling from Joe McKenna, set design by Mary Howard, and casting direction by Patrizia Pilotti. Beauty is work of hair stylist Guido Palau, and makeup artist Pat McGrath. Stars of the campaign are Alay Deng, Alin Szewczyk, Cas van Uytvanck, Dolly Baby, Douta Sidibe, Hiroto Yamamoto, Hunter Pifer, Jacob Adolpho, Mell, Nanne Tjoelker, Nevine Fadlmula, and Safe Crane.
“The Unboxing Valentino collection campaign is the portrait of a moment. The portrait of a new generation. A portrait of fashion, freedom of expression and the power of beauty. Pierpaolo Piccioli chose a cast of characters with a strong identity, to convey his idea of beauty. He looks for humans, real people make things easier. They put the extraordinary in a familiar frame. A collective exploration of diverse personalities to dwell the Maison community, like a Warhol factory, through Steven Meisel’s lens.” – from Valentino
Finding community through individuality.
For #UnboxingValentino, Pierpaolo Piccioli embraces the desires and imperfections in us all.
Discover the story, shot by #StevenMeisel, online at https://t.co/dyURbx1qtb pic.twitter.com/Nukwja5IxF
— Valentino (@MaisonValentino) February 23, 2023
