How to Experience the Romance of Valentino Fall-Winter

In the midst of the whirl of Fashion Weeks all over the world, we spent an evening with one of our favorite designer brands looking at what’s available in the here and now. Here’s how it felt to experience the lush romance of the Valentino fall-winter 2019-20 collection.

buy now, wear now

The fall-winter 2019-20 designer fashion collections are available in-store and online. In the hubbub of all the September Fashion Weeks, though, we sometimes forget about the here and now. When you’re entirely focused on what’s coming in spring-summer 2020, you can lose sight of the magnificent options right in front of you.

Happily, some of the fashion houses have a solution for that particular high-class problem. We’ve been invited to several cocktail parties this month to view the current collections of brands like Valentino and Gucci. Which makes perfect sense – what’s better than buy now, wear now? Plus, it’s incredibly fun to see what the other attendees are wearing at events like this. Who better to pick up style tips from than chic New Yorkers at a swanky party?

On a rainy night in mid-September, we ducked into a lovely Italianate townhouse on the Upper East of Manhattan, and were swept into the world of Valentino. Here’s how it felt to experience the romance of Valentino fall-winter 2019-20.

the setting

The location for this particular Valentino event was a perfect slice of Italy in the heart of New York.

The mansion on the Upper East Side evoked the gorgeous beauty of Rome, Florence, Venice and Milan. From the moment we entered, it was like being in the palazzo of a wealthy and refined friend. Who just happens to have a lot of chic friends.

The rain kept us out of the courtyard, but somehow the experience was even more dreamy seeing the mist and rain reflected in the light.

Inside, the fantastic DJ kept the vibe fresh and energetic. And yes, we did notice that the people working at the event, as well as the ones attending it, were a really diverse group. Nicely done, Valentino.

The event took place in a few different rooms, two of which had magnificent fireplaces. And gorgeous flowers and candlelight to add to the romance.

the crowd

As one would expect, the crowd was extremely chic and well turned-out.

Not everyone was in Valentino head-to-toe – but everyone was showing the flag.

What were we wearing, you ask? Our favorite Valentino black feathered sweater and a floral skirt from the brand’s spring-summer 2019 collection. And our black Rock Studs with a kitten heel, which are so comfortable that we forgot we were even in heels.

the collection

The collection itself is the kind of modern luxury we want to be around all day every day.

ready-to-wear apparel

Rich colors against black and ivory felt moody and romantic, but modern and functional, too. These are clothes to live in and feel great in – and most of them were fluid, with real movement.

Valentino is traditionally always about red. We love how Pierpaolo Piccolini has expanded that color palette into some gorgeous combinations that are timeless and striking. These looks feel confident, relaxed, and feminine – just what we’re looking for, and what many Boss Ladies are in search of, too.

The most special element of this collection for us, though, is the secrets. Inside the lining of the coats, and sometimes on their sleeves as well, there are lines from love poems. Little lovely snippets that in some cases only the wearer can see.

It sounds like sentimental gilding of the lily, we know, but it’s true – we actually cried when we read one of the poems about love, snow, and eternal connections between people who care deeply for each other. The words were hand-embroidered on the sleeve of a winter white double-faced cashmere coat, and it felt as if the designer was speaking directly to us. It’s that kind of collection.

If you’re more in the mood for edge, and clean lines, there’s plenty of that, too. And also some fantastic hats.

the shoes and bags

Fans of the Rock Stud, take note: there’s a new shoe in this collection that you need to see. A kitten-heeled pump that refers back to the Rock Stud, but brings the idea forward. All the models testified that they’re incredibly comfortable. You can judge the chic factor for yourself.

The bags are brightly-colored, with minimal hardware, giving them a more modern feel, and making them more versatile.

the romance of Valentino fall-winter 2019-20

Okay, Valentino, you’ve done it again. We’re in love. 

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