Valentino: IT is VSling

A Confident Valentino Wink.

A new bag has caught my eye. It’s beautifully constructed, perfectly sized, and comes in a fun palette of colours, from candy pink to vivid teal. Perhaps you’ve spotted IT too, at the Valentino on Love runway, and on the arms of the chic and stylish. Yes, I’m talking about the VSling. If you haven’t seen this object of desire, check out its unconventional campaign on Valentino’s Instagram page.

The campaign’s video series takes the form of audition tapes, shot by award-winning photographer Luke Gilford. To be specific, we see POSE screenwriter Janet Mock set up a casting call in New York. The search is on for someone to front the Valentino Garavani VSling bag in a video, and not just any pretty face will do. In Mock’s words: “We need beauty, class, brains and personality and we need it now.” Rowan Blanchard, Dominique Jackson, Kathryn Newton play the parts of Hollywood talents auditioning for the supporting role, with the VSling bag as the star.

I’m not revealing any more spoilers here, but I must say the VSling looks really good on the reel.

Lock in the Logo, Star Arising

Now, more about the bag. Inspired by the elegant geometries of the seventies and featuring the iconic VLogo buckle closure, the VSling is poised to be the new IT bag for Valentino.

Logo application is of course not new to the Maison. One can spot a Valentino wink – V for Valentino – on sight. And that’s with credit to Mr Valentino, who had since his Haute Couture Spring/Summer 1968 collection, incorporated graphical “V”s by pattern, hardware or construction in his apparel.

The V logo concept has never been limited to hardware. Case in point: a gold-tone mini-dress from the 1968 collection carried a double-V monogram pattern in the brocade weave. And who will forget the “V” seam sewn into the jacket of the trim red suit that Jackie Kennedy wore with a small crocodile Valentino handbag with subtle “V” hardware; and that “V’ neckline of the Haute Couture Autumn/Winter 1992/93 column gown worn by Julia Roberts at the 2001 Academy Awards?

Current Maison Valentino creative director Pierpaolo Piccioli has also re-interpreted the wink in multiple ways. His original and modern remixes include V-shaped logo stitchings on the back pockets of jeans, sequined V-shaped neckline on scarf dresses, multiple Valentino name script inscribed within scarf prints or embroidered onto the waistbands of skirts. You will agree with me that his now all-popular “VLTN” is totally speaking volumes in generation text.

While the VLogo is an evolved archival motif from 1979 and has appeared on various accessories in recent collections, the tone-on-tone nappa leather wrap treatment on the iconic VLogo buckle of the Vsling is a beautiful nod to Mr. Valentino’s “non-color”/tonal haute couture collection in 1968, shown at the Sfilata Bianca in Rome. The effect is an elegant one, that instantly adds a touch of refinement to the bag.

Equipped with an extendable shoulder strap, this accessory can be worn as a crossbody/shoulder bag, all you need to do is to (un)hook the slim gold chain to adjust the length.