The colour of love, passion, rage, danger and seduction, red evokes a visceral reaction wherever it is present. The cultural significance of this primary colour runs deep through human history, from prehistoric Neanderthal cave paintings to 20th century social movements. The employment of red in the context of fashion is prolific, yet its association often falls to a single couture house – Valentino.
Acknowledging this fact, the new book Rosso Valentino is an archival monograph of the Maison’s renowned application of the colour red, inscribing the illustrious creations of Valentino Garavani and subsequent creative directors throughout the past 50 years. Published by Assouline, the document is a continuation of the tradition of printed matter put forward by Valentino, as witnessed through its erudite text-based advertisement and release of the Haute Couture books. Beyond the colour red, Rosso Valentino captures both the distinct aesthetic identity established by Valentino Garavani since 1960, as well as its evolution into the new millennium with Pierpaolo Piccioli at the helm. With the latter creative director’s conception of Valentino Pink PP in the Autumn Winter 2022 season, Rosso Valentino serves as a guide into the legendary past of the house of Valentino. The book is written by Charlie Porter, who is also a contributor in A Magazine Curated By Erdem.