Photo: Alessandro Lucioni
For its spring/summer 22 couture show, Valentino celebrated beauty in all its forms, with Pierpaolo Piccioli sending a diverse array of models down his catwalk; men and women of all shapes, sizes, age and ethnicities. The usual suspects were all present and correct – Adut Akech and Mariacarla Boscono among them. But there were also appearances from plus size models Devyn Garcia and Angeer Amol, as well as gray-haired beauties Kristen McMenamy and Hannelore Knuts.
To complement his inclusive vision, Piccioli enlisted the help of legendary makeup artist Pat McGrath to create a whimsical beauty look. Giving new meaning to a winged eye, McGrath accentuated a handful of feline flicks with breathtaking black feathers, echoing the feathered details in the collection. Skin was soft and velvety, boasting a quiet and almost haunting glow, while lips were dark and gothic – a rich shade of berry.
Kristen McMenamy on the Valentino couture runway. Photo: Alessandro Lucioni
Like the casting, the hair was eclectic; a mix of middle partings, fringes and cornrows in a celebration of individuality courtesy of hair master Guido Palau. Particularly mesmerizing was model Fran Summers, who unveiled a striking new pixie cut. “I don’t think the idea of trying to look like someone else is interesting,” Piccioli told British Vogue fashion critic Anders Christian Madsen. Indeed, if there’s one thing to take away from the show it was this: one should only ever try to look like oneself.
