When creative director Pierpaolo Piccioli staged his Valentino Act Collection at Milan’s Piccolo Teatro, he dubbed it “a sort of a punk act.” Indeed, reopening the iconic theater temporarily for a show after it was closed to the public due to the pandemic was a bold move, and the collection certainly called for one.
Salma Abu Deif wears sweater, skirt, Valentino; Rockstud Alcove box bag, boots, earrings, Valentino Garavani. Photographed by Amina Zaher for Vogue Arabia September 2021
Cape, dress, polo neck, Valentino; Roman Stud bag, Rockstud Alcove shoes, earrings, Valentino Garavani. Photographed by Amina Zaher for Vogue Arabia September 2021
For the Italian fashion house’s FW21 line, the designer set aside his usual fluorescent color palette to embrace black and white with only hints of color, and brutally shortened silhouettes as if slashed with scissors. Think pleated skirts of new proportions, capes evolved from peacoats and jackets, and evening dresses held together with ribbons.
Cape, sweater, shirt, polo neck, skirt, Valentino; Stud Sign bag, earrings, Valentino Garavani. Photographed by Amina Zaher for Vogue Arabia September 2021
Cape, sweater, shirt, polo neck, skirt, Valentino; Stud Sign bag, earrings, Valentino Garavani. Photographed by Amina Zaher for Vogue Arabia September 2021
The use of overlapping nets, lace, and intensely worked surfaces enables the skin to be momentarily uncovered and veiled. As a nod to Valentino’s punk and romantic aesthetic, an increased number of studs featured on the toe of pumps, on Valentino Garavani Rockstud bags, and in the form of accumulations of rubber petals on the Atelier Valentino Garavani boots.
Dress, Valentino; Stud Sign bag, shoes, earrings, Valentino Garavani. Photographed by Amina Zaher for Vogue Arabia September 2021
Sweater, shirt, polo neck, skirt, Valentino; Rockstud Alcove shoes, earrings, Valentino Garavani. Photographed by Amina Zaher for Vogue Arabia September 2021
To embody this spirit of the collection, Vogue Arabia and Valentino enlisted Salma Abu Deif, who is known for her remarkable style and passion for acting. The Egyptian actor was filmed in key looks from the Valentino Act Collection at the Cinema Radio, Cairo’s very own historic theater not unlike the Piccolo Teatro di Milano.
Dress, Valentino; Stud Sign bag, shoes, earrings, Valentino Garavani. Photographed by Amina Zaher for Vogue Arabia September 2021
Dress, Valentino; Stud Sign bag, Valentino Garavani. Photographed by Amina Zaher for Vogue Arabia September 2021
Read Next: Salma Abu Deif Reveals Everything Inside Her Valentino Garavani Roman Stud Bag
Video Director/DOP: Muhammad Gamal El-din
AD/Steady cam: Mahmoud Salama
Gaffer: Mahmoud Toti
Post-production: Hue Studio
Style: Yasmine Eissa
Hair: Ahmed Mounir
Makeup: Sally Rashid
Set design: Noor Sauté
Fabrics: Salem Alta Moda
Senior fashion market editor: Amine Jreissati
Production: Danica Zivkovic, Nirvana Bebars at Digitent
Photography assistant: Malak El Araby
Style assistant: Mohamed Ashraf
Production assistants: Ramy Tarek, Omar Allam
Model: Salma Abu Deif
With special thanks to Al Ismaelia, Downtown Cairo, and Dakhli West El Balad for Cinema Radio
