The Red Dress Returns: A Tribute to Valentino's Timeless Legacy
As the fashion world mourned the passing of legendary designer Valentino Garavani at 93, a sea of black-clad celebrities gathered at his funeral in Rome. However, amidst the somber attire, there were subtle nods to the iconic Italian fashion house that Valentino has left behind.
Donatella Versace, who paid tribute to her fellow designer, opted for a bright red suit, while Francesca Ragazzi, head of content at Vogue Italia, revealed that the magazine's February issue cover would feature a bold take on Valentino's signature shade. "The most vibrant, it best expresses a sense of light," she explained, as they settled on Pantone 2347C, the closest match to Valentino red.
Valentino Garavani first introduced his famous red dress in 1959 with Fiesta, a strapless gown adorned with roses across a full skirt. The color's impact was undeniable, and its specific shade became synonymous with the designer. Alistair O'Neill, curator of Somerset House's Valentino: Master of Couture exhibition, noted that the tone works across various skin colors, making nearly all women look great.
Charlie Porter, fashion writer for Valentino Rosso, a 2022 coffee table book about the color, agrees, stating that Valentino developed his red before Pantone began standardizing colors. "It's a red with real sensitivity and depth and human feeling because it's before this time of 'let's choose a red', mechanical color."
Valentino's affinity for red has become deeply personal, with 67 years since the debut of Fiesta. The legacy lives on through the color that will remain in the global imagination forever.
Kassia St Clair, author of The Secret Lives of Colour, notes that red clothing symbolizes luxury, power, and status, a notion that transcends time. Porter, however, disputes this, arguing that references to Valentino have become overhyped, citing the iconic Rockstud shoes as a prime example. "I think when someone passes, then we can enter into an eulogising world of 'it's changed something for ever'. I don't think it has, actually."
St Clair also counters this idea, stating that red transcends trends and associations. Valentino has carved out a unique place in our time, and the color will endure long after he is gone.
The enduring influence of Valentino's red dress serves as a testament to his legacy, a lasting symbol of style, beauty, and timeless elegance.
As the fashion world mourned the passing of legendary designer Valentino Garavani at 93, a sea of black-clad celebrities gathered at his funeral in Rome. However, amidst the somber attire, there were subtle nods to the iconic Italian fashion house that Valentino has left behind.
Donatella Versace, who paid tribute to her fellow designer, opted for a bright red suit, while Francesca Ragazzi, head of content at Vogue Italia, revealed that the magazine's February issue cover would feature a bold take on Valentino's signature shade. "The most vibrant, it best expresses a sense of light," she explained, as they settled on Pantone 2347C, the closest match to Valentino red.
Valentino Garavani first introduced his famous red dress in 1959 with Fiesta, a strapless gown adorned with roses across a full skirt. The color's impact was undeniable, and its specific shade became synonymous with the designer. Alistair O'Neill, curator of Somerset House's Valentino: Master of Couture exhibition, noted that the tone works across various skin colors, making nearly all women look great.
Charlie Porter, fashion writer for Valentino Rosso, a 2022 coffee table book about the color, agrees, stating that Valentino developed his red before Pantone began standardizing colors. "It's a red with real sensitivity and depth and human feeling because it's before this time of 'let's choose a red', mechanical color."
Valentino's affinity for red has become deeply personal, with 67 years since the debut of Fiesta. The legacy lives on through the color that will remain in the global imagination forever.
Kassia St Clair, author of The Secret Lives of Colour, notes that red clothing symbolizes luxury, power, and status, a notion that transcends time. Porter, however, disputes this, arguing that references to Valentino have become overhyped, citing the iconic Rockstud shoes as a prime example. "I think when someone passes, then we can enter into an eulogising world of 'it's changed something for ever'. I don't think it has, actually."
St Clair also counters this idea, stating that red transcends trends and associations. Valentino has carved out a unique place in our time, and the color will endure long after he is gone.
The enduring influence of Valentino's red dress serves as a testament to his legacy, a lasting symbol of style, beauty, and timeless elegance.
it was like losing an old friend who always understood you about fashion... the red dress is literally iconic it never goes out of style and its not just because of pantone they actually made that shade from scratch 1959 was a game changer for him and his brand... donatella's bright red suit at the funeral was so cool i love how vogue italia is keeping his legacy alive with that february issue cover 
kassia st clair makes some good points about the symbolic meaning of red too, it does represent luxury and power but valentino definitely made it his own... anyway what's next for the house of valentino? will we see more of that signature shade or maybe something new to keep the legacy going 
? its like he created this perfect shade that makes everyone look lit no matter their skin tone or style 
donatella's bright red suit was such a subtle yet beautiful tribute, and i love how francisca chose pantone 2347c - it's like the color just comes alive 
what i'm really loving about all this is that people are still having these deep conversations about the power of red in fashion, from luxury to status to timeless elegance 
i mean dont get me wrong donta & francesca r doin valentinos legacy justice but its like theyre trying 2 prove that his red dress is more than just a trend it really is a timeless classic & thats what makes it so iconic 
like alistair said, it works across all skin tones & that red shade has become synonymous with elegance & sophistication in the fashion world
they're already getting people dressed in black (which btw is so overdone) and using the occasion to trot out his iconic red dress like it's some kind of national treasure. newsflash: it's just a color, not a person 
anyway i think its kinda cool that the fashion world is still hyped about Valentinos iconic red dress all these years later imo its a testament to his genius that his design has become so deeply ingrained in our pop culture psyche. and yaaas let's not forget that red works on EVERY skin tone its like the ultimate shade of empowerment 
i feel like every time i see the iconic red dress its like i'm transported back in time to when it was first introduced in 1959 
like alistair o neill said, its a tone that works magic 
and im totally with charlie porter on this one, valentinos red is def not just about luxury and status 
although i do love how it symbolizes those things too 
The idea that Pantone 2347C is so closely tied to Valentino's signature shade is pretty cool. I mean, who would have thought that the color itself has become more iconic than the designer himself? It's crazy how some brands can leave such a lasting impact on our culture and language
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. Alistair O'Neill makes a great point about the tone working across various skin colors, and Charlie Porter's comment about Pantone standardizing colors before Valentino developed his signature shade is also interesting.
itz like 1st introduced in 1959 & itz stil rockin 
the way they're payin tribute to him wiv different shades of red is so classy. i feel like the color just transcends time, doesnt matter who wears it or when u see it, its always gonna be fire 
, and it's awesome that Pantone 2347C is getting some love too 
. And I love how Alistair O'Neill pointed out that it's a shade that flatters nearly all skin tones - inclusive and gorgeous! 
The fact that it was around 67 years ago, yet still looks so fresh, just proves that great design never goes out of style 
. Let's keep the red dress magic alive and bring back some old-school glamour 
. #RedDressRevival #ValentinoForever #FashionIcon #ClassicStyle
That's a testament to Valentino's genius 
. And I'm all for celebrating the OG fashion house and its timeless designs, but let's not forget that some of those designs are straight-up problematic 
).
. We can dream, right? 