Valentino unveiled its Haute Couture Fall-Winter 2016-’17 collection during Paris Couture Week on Wednesday, July 6. The show was attended by celebs including Zoë Kravitz and Olivia Palermo, but the Italian fashion house’s 6.9 million Instagram followers scored their own insider access to the event with several behind-the-scenes details, including intel on the amount of time it took to create some of the most glamorous looks. One gown took more than 24 full days to create!
“Today’s inspiration is taken from the Shakespearian world to be then transformed into an emotional alchemy #HauteCouture master pieces,” a July 6 Instagram from the house’s @MaisonValentino account explained of an extensive mood board that included imagery from the 16th century.
A standout piece from the collection includes a sheer black long-sleeve gown with an intricately-stitched message. “The beading details on this dress took 580 hours of handmade craftsmanship, embroidered are the words; ‘if you love me I’m in your heart, if you hate me I’m in your mind,’” Valentino Instagrammed. The quote is one of the Romeo and Juliet playwright’s most famous ones.
But believe it or not, those 580 hours paled in comparison to the amount of time it took to craft this luxurious duster. “A dramatic coat portraying the character of the persona through antique patchwork applications that took 1,200 working hours to be perfectly stitched together,” the brand revealed.
Honorable mention goes to yet another jacket in black and white, which covered a diaphanous white gown with a smocked waist. “After 490 hours of craftsmanship in the atelier in Rome this double cashmere and velvet coat was created for the modern era of the Shakespearian couture,” Valentino Instagrammed.
And what would couture be without another LBD — a long black dress? “The power of theatrical couture, transforms the inner ‘secret’ into an expressive apparel,” a caption read. “470 hours of hand-made craftsmanship come to life on this #Hautecouture #fw1617 look.”
Which look is your favorite? Let Us know below!
