Kaia Gerber is the face of Valentino’s new “Black Tie” advertising campaign.
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Model Kaia Gerber opened Valentino’s autumn-winter 2023 Haute Couture show in July, so it’s no surprise that the Roman luxury fashion house would choose her to lead their new Black Tie Advertising Campaign, which was shot at the Oheka Castle in New York, by renowned photographer Steven Meisel.
“A new image is conceived, where modern interpretations of iconic elements of the Maison, such as the stud and the roses linger dynamically, and act as a symbol of opulence and grandeur,” states the house in collection notes. This is a turn from Valentino’s Pink Collection that was unveiled in September 2022. With punk elements, it’s a collection that doesn’t adhere to rigid canons or any sort of fixed rules.
The campaign challenges the norms of traditional dressing.
For Pierpaolo Piccioli, the campaign captures intimate portraits with an unpretentious background. As he sees beauty coming from harmony. Beauty is individual here, making it unique. So out with rules and traditional standards of dress and in with sartorial rebellion and confidence. “It is a refreshing departure from the norm and a demonstration to the power of individuality and self-expression,” says the house.
It’s ironic in a sense, because black tie is synonymous with formality and rules, and masculine power. But, Piccioli is saying no, that there is a shift to where inclusivity and personal expression is embraced, where people can celebrate diversity by pushing boundaries, which brings a new definition to elegance.
