Valentino Garavani once said, “I think a woman in red is always beautiful.”
In the year For Fall 2023, his signature shade has filled the runways, with the brand’s current creative director, Pierpaolo Piccoli, leading the charge. Red rosette and bow embellished pelmet dresses, Paying homage to Garavani’s “Fiesta” cocktail dress in 1959, the floor-length dresses created a feminine contrast to the black-tie dress, which WWD columnist Miles Socha named after the trip. Karl Lagerfeld’s vision of another couturier.
With Maximilian Davies’ second collection for Ferragamo, which Socha declared “a step up from his first work,” the designer stepped up his bid to make red synonymous with his home, revealing outerwear and several new handbag styles, all in the same electric shade.
Elsewhere in Italy, Ferrari designer Rocco Iannone referenced the carmaker’s quick cherry-red variants of looks that included a kimono coat for her and a leather boiler suit for him. The genesis of Code Collection, Rocco told WWD’s Luisa Zargani, was an exploration of “beauty in motion.”
In Rosemary Fettelberg’s report, Pantone predicted a ripple effect in monochrome red looks. The institute named red dahlia and 2023 color of the year Viva Magenta as star players in the current New York Fashion Week palette, naming the former “red’s inspiring experimentation and self-expression” and the latter “gentleman.”
A primary color’s ability to be both classic and modern means it can suit a variety of styles.
The Hermès range is inspired by auburn hair in warm tones to create effortless wear. Leather outerwear and lacy, underwear dresses at Prabal Gurung, Mugler and Bali showed a sultrier side of colour.
Meanwhile, Carolina Herrera and Emilia Wickstead, both of whom can be credited for old-Hollywood glamour, donned dresses to stand out even on the matching red carpet.