Maison Valentino brought Roman charm and couture to Los Angeles last night, as Creative Director Alessandro Michele and CEO Riccardo Bellini gathered friends of the house at the Marciano Art Foundation. The (of course) fashionable crowd was gathered to celebrate the launch of Specula Mundi—photographer Mark Borthwick’s limited-edition book that transforms Michele’s debut Valentino couture collection into a living story.
The Occasion: The release of Borthwick’s 260-page, 422-illustration design object produced in 1,500 numbered copies, conceived to transform the Valentino haute couture show presented in Paris last January into a lasting creative collaboration.
The Locale: The Marciano Art Foundation offered an intimate and architecturally striking venue, with a backdrop composed of its contemporary art holdings, perfect for a night packed with cross-cultural tastemakers.
The Crowd: An A-list troupe of stars joined Michele and Borthwick for the evening, including musicians Sombr and Tate McRae; actors Teyana Taylor, Patricia Arquette, Maude Apatow, Maika Monroe, Owen Thiele, Jordan Firstman, Mindy Kaling, Dree Louise Hemingway, and Paul W. Downs; and fashion tastemaker Devon Lee Carlson.
The Entertainment: A Kaiserpanorama installation recreated the original scenography of the Specula Mundi Paris show, drawing guests into an immersive visual sequence of Borthwick’s imagery.
Memorable Moment: Michele himself moved through a room packed with friends of the house (as well as devotees that have followed the singular designer throughout his career), entertaining, chatting, and welcoming guests into a sartorial world that has been translated three times: first into couture creations, then into a runway show, and now into a collectible coffee table tome.
Cause for FOMO: Copies of the book were passed around as guests turned pages and compared notes on imagery and specific looks. With its limited run and brick-and-mortar exclusive, Specula Mundi manifests as an exceptionally rare collector’s item, only for the most discerning Valentino acolyte.
Encased in bespoke packaging, Specula Mundi by Mark Borthwick will be available starting from May 11 in select Valentino boutiques worldwide.
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