Looking back at the red carpet magic of fashion designer Pierpaolo Piccioli

Glenn Close (left) poses with Pierpaolo Piccioli on the red carpet of the 2022 Met Gala. Photo: Valentino

The recent announcement that Pierpaolo Piccioli is leaving Valentino came as quite a shock. It marks the end of his 25-year legacy with the fashion house.

Over that period, the Italian designer has proven he is a master of red carpet dressing.

His list of celebrity clients includes the biggest names in showbiz. His designs appear regularly at all the major awards shows too.

Piccioli first joined Valentino in 1999 as an accessory designer alongside Maria Grazia Chiuri. The two of them then worked as co-creative directors in 2008.

He became the sole creative director in 2016 after Chiuri left to join Dior.

Read more: Valentino names ex-Gucci designer Alessandro Michele as creative chief

Piccioli is well recognised for being able to create clothes that balance between being commercial in value and appearing as overtly avant-garde – all at the same time.

At the Met Gala – known as fashion’s biggest night out, his creative designs really stood out.

Back in 2022, he designed a head-to-toe hot pink outfit consisting of a sleek blouse, tailored pants, opera gloves and a cape for actress Glenn Close. It was her first Met Gala outing.

Singer-songwriter Rihanna wore an ornate white creation by Piccioli at the Met Gala last year.

Decorated with oversized white roses, it featured a cowl that wrapped right around her head, complete with a pair of sunglasses with faux eyelashes poking out.

The versatile designer is not just a one trick pony. He is able to come up with chic and elegant outfits too.

In 2019, he dressed singer-actor Lady Gaga for the Golden Globes. The periwinkle blue dress he came up with made her look like a modern-day princess.

Actress Meryl Streep stepped out in a design by Piccioli at this year’s Golden Globes too. She wore a sparkly skirted suit combo that certainly turned heads.

He is also able to work his wonders with trendier options.

Zendaya’s jaw-dropping Valentino look at the 2022 Oscars? The actress was lauded for being among the best-dressed of the night.

Read more: Valentino cancels June fashion shows amid rumours of new creative director

More recently, Piccioli designed Colman Domingo’s Critics’ Choice Awards ensemble.

The actor was spotted in January wearing a mustard-coloured suit jacket over a pale blue button-down shirt, paired with matching trousers. The kicker was a shimmery gold overcoat draped over the shoulders.

All these show that Piccioli’s legacy goes beyond the runway. His name is very much talked about when it comes to red carpet fashion too.