VALENTINO PRESENTS FIRST READY-TO-WEAR SHOW SINCE VALENTINO GARAVANI’S PASSING

Valentino has unveiled its first ready-to-wear runway collection since the passing of the house’s founder, Valentino Garavani, marking a significant moment in the brand’s history.

Staged inside Rome’s historic Palazzo Barberini, the show also continued the new creative chapter led by creative director Alessandro Michele, who joined the Italian maison in 2024 following his long tenure at Gucci.

For the presentation, Michele accompanied the collection with an extensive written essay included in the show notes. The text explored themes of culture, architecture, and philosophy, referencing influential thinkers such as Friedrich Nietzsche, Walter Benjamin, and Georg Simmel, framing the collection as a reflection on intellectual and cultural heritage.

On the runway, Michele delivered a noticeably different tone from the maximalist aesthetic that defined much of his work at Gucci. Instead, the Valentino collection leaned toward more restrained silhouettes and thoughtful construction, blending classic tailoring with sculptural drapery and subtle detailing.

Structured coats, refined eveningwear, and architectural shapes anchored the lineup, while carefully placed embellishments and unexpected textures introduced complexity without overwhelming the garments. The overall effect balanced simplicity with layered design, suggesting a quieter but still expressive direction for the house.

Presented in the brand’s home city of Rome, the show also carried symbolic weight, arriving at a moment when Valentino continues to evolve while acknowledging the legacy established by Garavani decades ago.