MEET THE DESIGNER: Pierpaolo Piccioli, Creative Director of Valentino

In this week’s designer profile, we will be checking out the creative director of Valentino, Pierpaolo Piccioli, and his evolution as a fashion designer and a creative director. The evolution of Piccioli as a fashion designer is attached to Maria Grazia Churi his longtime mutual and creative friend.

Pierpaolo Piccioli is the current creative director of Valentino and has worked with the fashion house for 14 years. He oversaw the creative directing of the fashion house alongside Maria Grazia Churi before she decamped to Dior in 2016 leaving Pierpaolo as the sole creative director.

Pierpaolo was born in 1967 in Nettuno. he studied literature at Rome University before taking a course in experimental fashion. Piccioli studied at IED, Istituto Europeo di Design in Rome, and joined Fendi in 1989 where he began working alongside Maria marking the beginning of a two-decade creative partnership. In 1999, Piccioli and Maria moved to Valentino as accessory designers.

The two pairs rebranded the luxury brand’s eyewear and handbag collection. Their success lead to them being in charge of the brand’s diffusion line Red Valentino in 2003. After the retirement of the house founder Valentino Garavani in 2008, Piccioli and Churi were appointed the creative director of the fashion house.

Piccioli and Churi pushed Valentino to the forefront of fashion and also revitalized its menswear section. Under the creative directing of the two friends, Valentino breathed new creative energy and Designs. The creative pair also received the CFDA Award in 2015. After Maria was appointed the artistic director of Dior in 2016, Piccioli became the sole creative director of the fashion house. His Autumn winter 2018 haute couture collection for the house received a standing ovation for the creative designs.

Pierpaolo Piccioli’s recent collection for the house is the Maison Valentino Fall Winter Couture collection. The collection titled “Valentino the beginning” presents a study of past and present in different creative looks. The collection features High-quality fabrics, plunging necklines, and optical prints. Feather heels and headwear mixed with 3d rose jackets and sequin suits for a celebration of all that is couture was also presented by the fashion house. Below are some of the Valentino Fall winter couture collection: