For spring/summer 2022, Valentino creative director Pierpaolo Piccioli refashioned five dresses from the house vaults to kick off his Valentino Archive project. But there was one new dress style that stole editors’ hearts. Naturally, she was a mini. The handful of flirty party dresses were in keeping with the industry’s mission to bring sexy back and looked all the more delicious for their upfront appeal.
First in line for Pierpaolo’s new-look slip dresses that signal “fun”? Zendaya, of course. The archetypal Valentino girl, who’s not afraid to take risks and eats up fruit bowl shades, lends her superstar power to the spring/summer 2022 campaign. Pulling all kinds of power poses, while balancing the squishy Roman Stud bag in the palm of her hand, Zendaya – all cute bows and big hair – looks simultaneously like she’s going for a night out and a day at a beach club. The secret? Her attitude and those gladiator flats.
Snake-up-the-leg sandals are big news this summer. Models at Dior and Louis Vuitton also padded down the runways wearing the Grecian-style footwear which adds drama to looks while remaining comfy – in other words, a total score when it comes to fancy flats.
“This season, I really want to breathe life into the brand,” Piccioli said of the youthful mood at the heart of his Valentino. “We spent almost two years isolated and what I really want now is all about emotions, connections, people: life.” That little pink dress is giving us life, but for you it might be something else. The non-negotiable this season? Zendaya energy.
