2000 Runway Valentino Haute Couture Vermillion Red Skirt Suit

This haute couture suit was handcrafted in the Valentino atelier in Rome and designed by Valentino Garavani himself. Tailored from smooth wool in vivid vermilion red, one of the house’s signature colours, it is an exacting example of Valentino’s refined early 2000s couture tailoring. The same suit was shown on the Fall 2000 Haute Couture runway in grey, with the unusual bow and twisted waist construction making its first appearance; similar designs were in collections up until the designer's retirement in 2008. The fitted jacket has long, straight sleeves and a wide collar, fastening through the front with a concealed tonal zip. Beautifully constructed, a large bow in matching wool adorns the front of the jacket, cinching the waist and gathering into a central band that fastens discreetly at the back with three tonal snap closures. The coordinating skirt is cut to a classic pencil silhouette and fastens at the back with a concealed tonal zip and hook-and-eye. A rear slit allows for ease of movement. Both pieces are fully lined in tonal matte silk crepe. The suit is in superb archival vintage condition. There is one tiny snag, measuring less than 1mm, to the front of the jacket. As a haute couture piece, there are no size or composition labels, so please refer carefully to the sizing information below as the fabric has no stretch. We estimate a best fit for a UK 8-10 or US 4-6. MEASUREMENTS JACKET BUST - 34 in. (86 cm) WAIST - 28 in. (71 cm) HIGH HIP - 34 in. (86 cm) LENGTH - 20 in. (51 cm) SHOULDERS - 16 in. (41 cm) MEASUREMENTS SKIRT WAIST - 27 in. (69 cm) HIP - 40 in. (102 cm) LENGTH - 24 in. (61 cm)