Couture in the Time of Covid-19

In the midst of a worldwide pandemic, Pierpaolo Piccioli’s Haute Couture Fall 2020 for Valentino paints how the fashion industry is able to safely function within lockdown constraints while simultaneously producing ethereal sentiments that provide, at least, a feeling of hope, serenity and beauty. Fashion, especially that of Haute Couture, can seem superfluous during these trying times; yet, Picciolo’s collection is not that of a typical gaudy and excessive couture show. His delicate designs provide some solace during an anxiety filled period.

With the siren tones of FKA Twig’s omnipresent voice, the models, hoisted on ladders, are presented like angels. Tones of matrimony and love are threaded by the chiffon, taffeta and endless amount of tulle. About 350 meters of fabric are said to make up each breathtaking dress. The models are not drowning in the excess, but rather are regally uplifted.

The show is titled, “The Performance of Grace and Light, a dialogue between Pierpaolo Piccioli and Nick Knight”. Haute Couture has always been about performance and theatrics, and Piccioli continues this tradition by constructing a space where the surreal and the fantastic can coexist with our reality.

This collection, of grace, light and fragility, is amplified by the beautiful, diverse skin tones that don these strikingly ivory fabrics. And, for whatever it’s worth, this show proves how in confining and tragic times, fashion and dress are capable of providing a haven. Fashion is never a solution to politics, epidemics and racial discrimination, but it at the very least lets us celebrate light and life, hope and vulnerability, the mythical and magical.

All photos taken from the Valentino Fall 2020 Haute Couture show via Vogue Runway & Instagram @MaisonValentino