Valentin's Adventures in Knitwear
Vestiaire Collective's Creative Director Valentin discovered the platform 10 years ago, and has since bought and sold many pieces. It was also one of his dreams to join the company, which came true a year ago! His pro tip for using Vestiaire is "Find out which puppet you are, and everything will become clearer!" Today, we're diving into his obsession with knitwear...
I'm currently collecting...
...sweaters, from the most classic to the most exuberant. I love the richness of colors and materials they offer, although I have a preference for the fluffy mohair vibe. I often think about all the Marni sweaters I’ve missed along the years; Francesco Risso is a true knitwear artist. His colors and textures are amazing and surprisingly wearable. A Marni sweater is also a piece of art (and they always go up in value, so a perfect investment).
The best style advice I ever received was…
...to work with contrasts. It can be true for silhouettes (oversize top and slim bottoms or vice versa) and textures & colors. I found a beautiful Yohji Yamamoto sweater from the '90s on Vestiaire Collective. It has beautiful tonal geometric patterns and it’s in perfect condition, although you can tell it’s really old. I’m now on the hunt of the perfect Y2K leather trousers to pair it with.
My top tip is...
...not to limit yourself to modern brands. Some heritage brands (such as Loro Piana or Etro) provide amazing alternatives to sweaters that are made today. I'll also buy anything Jean Paul Gaultier has brought to the world.
I'm lucky enough to have a stylish Dad...
...so I used to help myself to his extensive oversized sweater collection. Second-hand has helped me continue my collection. Because prices are lower, you can allow yourself to buy a bigger breadth (for example, I love buying sweaters in both oversize and tight fits).