.By Julia Szabo
Valentino’s two-story style sanctuary in East Hampton is, for a shopper, what a pristine wave is to a surfer. Here, every care has been taken to recreate the casual spirit of a mid-century modern summer place—down to rattan seating and sisal flooring, amid other charming details. It’s all the seemingly effortless artistry of creative director Pierpaolo Piccioli, self-appointed historian-archivist of the iconic maison he pilots, designing with a palette as bold as the hot pink he chose for Valentino-clad celebrities at May’s Met Gala, and possibly bolder, making a rainbow of vibrant colors the timeless new black.
The word “vintage” might suggest something muted or colorless, but there’s not a whiff of faded glory in the vibrant, thriving brand founded in 1960 by the legendary Last Emperor, Valentino Garavani.
Anything vintage with a Valentino label may be guaranteed to be beautiful, for Garavani has famously stated, “I love beauty. It’s not my fault.” Patterns that first captivated Valentino loyalists in the 1960s and 1970s—especially the animal magnetism of the boldly graphic, black-and-white ’60s Giraffa—look totally new on display in the East Hampton boutique, showcasing men’s and women’s summer must-haves, from head scarves to handbags. Lovers of vintage patterns will be overjoyed to see that Giraffa’s fellow archival prints, Round Rain’s sunburst and the undulating Valentino Waves, also look equally chic today. 53 Main St., East Hampton; valentino.com
