In the fashion system, accessories are no longer mere complements, but a cornerstone of identity upon which a fashion house’s entire image is built. This centrality finds its greatest challenge in eyewear: translating the couture spirit into a pure design object that will achieve cult status. It is with this understanding that Kering Eyewear and […]
Menej ako 1 min.
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In the fashion system, accessories are no longer mere complements, but a cornerstone of identity upon which a fashion house’s entire image is built. This centrality finds its greatest challenge in eyewear: translating the couture spirit into a pure design object that will achieve cult status. It is with this understanding that Kering Eyewear and Maison Valentino have created a debut that presents itself as a true manifesto.
And to the rhythmic notes of Mark Ronson, in the glassy, post-industrial setting of The Shed in New York, the first act of the collaboration between the eyewear label led by Roberto Vedovotto—founder, chairman, and CEO of Kering Eyewear—and the Roman fashion house took place. Not a simple presentation, but a sensorial evening that aimed to redefine the grammar of the gaze for SpringSummer 2026.
Valentino Eyewear’s latest collection moves along a path of almost architectural geometric precision. On one hand, edgy silhouettes appear sculpted from the volume of acetate; on the other, metal frames work by subtraction, where Maison Valentino’s historic codes—from the V-Logo to the Rockstuds —are not added frills, but structural trademarks. It’s a balancing act between the Maison’s heritage and the speed of contemporary design. The event itself, conceived as a free-flowing journey through scenographic installations, transformed the product into a playful experience. In an era of understated luxury, Valentino Eyewear focused on vibrant colors, inviting the 900 guests not only to observe, but to interact, to try on, to play with their own identity.
The project’s ambition was legitimized by the composition of a heterogeneous audience, a reflection of New York’s ability to mix editors, content creators, selected clients, and industry professionals together. Alongside Vedovotto’s vision, figures who perfectly embody the spirit of the times moved through the pavilions: from the lyrical depth of the contemporary poet and artist Precious Okoyomon to the magnetic presence of Hari Nef, an actress and model who has transformed identity into a sophisticated work of art. The aesthetic of the most aware Gen Z found a voice in the figure of Ella Emhoff, a designer and model capable of effortlessly managing a complex political and public legacy, while the freshness of Coco Schiffer and the rebellious attitude of Bambi Northwood-Blyth reminded us that the allure of fashion still lies in the right face at the right time. Completing this mosaic of influences were the cosmopolitan creativity of model and DJ Gilly Chan and the subtle irony of Angelica Hicks, an illustrator who knows how to embrace the fashion system with elegance.
The whole thing was punctuated by the rhythm of Mark Ronson at the mixing desk, a sound architect who, just like Valentino Eyewear with this collection, knows how to handle classics and make them contemporary. The evening ended late, leaving the feeling that glasses are no longer just a way to look, but also a way to be looked at.
