Communication and passion:  these are the two keys to interpreting the new SS 2018 collection by Mario Valentino.  The first represents the brand’s first source of stylistic inspiration:  communication in all of its many daily representations, from those that are written, thought-out, and methodical, to the instantaneity of social networks that leaves the home behind and takes to the streets, spying on youths and imitating them, while adapting to new standards of life and luxury in a play of self-irony.  The second instead tells of the passion with which the Neapolitan brand creates its footwear:  with artisanal expertise, a fanatical attention to detail, and the search for a perfect balance between lifestyles, wearability, and lightness.

These are the two filters that unfold the tale of the new Mario Valentino summer collection, a tale where lightness is combined with a meticulous attention to detail, and where fresh, but unusual, combinations find an expression through meshes: printed, camouflage, simple and fluorescent, next to calfskin and patent leather.  Even python prints tell their story, starting with natural tones that eventually arrive at the strongest colours, while creating an “electro-pop” mood that is characterized by daring combinations.  The pastel tones are instead delicate and cold, and cushioned by glossy inserts and full black highlights, or lit up by mirrored copper and silver details.

The search for lightness in its structures is the other great story told by the Mario Valentino collection and is expressed in vertiginous heels that recall the stiletto, and platforms in two versions:  extreme, with a wide and squared heel, but with an elegant and gentle mood, and a stiletto that is comfortable but bold.  There are then flatties with a MV sculptured outsole, while slip-ons feature streamlined toes… the collection is also an ode to the ankles, highlighting them through soft wrap-around straps, which are embellished by over-sized fastenings that go beyond the confines of the upper.

So, we ask, when speaking of shoes, what exactly are we talking about?  In Mario Valentino’s case, we are speaking of a luxury, which tells the tale of passion, style, and loveliness.