Alessandro Michele, a famous Italian designer, is famous for his bold moves and unconventional solutions. This time he decided to present to the world a taste of the Valentino 2025 collection. Instead of waiting for his debut collection in spring, he shared fragments of his designs now.
He drew inspiration from the rich archives of Valentino Garavani, the founder of the brand. Michele revealed that his first the official show for Valentino will take place in Paris on September 29th, but he already wants to present the world with a foretaste of his visions. What will Alessandro Michele surprise us with this time? One thing is certain. It will be a spectacular show, referring to the rich history of Valentino, but at the same time breathing freshness and an innovative approach to fashion.
Valentino under the wings of a visionary
From his very first days at Valentino, Alessandro Michele has established himself as a designer who draws inspiration from the house’s rich history. Just two months after joining the brand, on April 2, he presented a 2025 resort collection that impressed not only with its quantity (171 photos!) but also a deep dive into the legacy of Valentino Garavani.
Michele makes no secret of his love for Valentino’s archives, calling them “a wonderful collection of objects” with which he feels “an intimate connection.” Touching Garavani’s designs is like a “religious encounter” for him. Working on the collection became “almost a spiritual experience” for him and his team. The designer talks enthusiastically about “delving into the archives like an orchestra tuning its instruments”, emphasizing the enormous work and commitment of the entire team.
Michele was inspired not only by Valentino Garavani himself, but also by the world around him: carpets, Chinese vases, beautiful objects. They shaped his vision of fashion, which, as he himself admits, “has nothing to do with marketing or the PR machine”. Like Garavani, Michele sees fashion as “a great vehicle for freedom.” The 2025 resort collection is just a taste of what the master of Italian fashion has in store for us in the future. We can be sure that it will be a journey full of emotion, depth and beauty.
A taste of the Valentino 2025 collection
The Valentino 2025 collection begins a journey through the house’s rich history, with clear influences from the 70s and 80s. Alessandro Michele draws inspiration from an “extraordinary moment” in Valentino Garavani’s career, when the designer avoided exaggeration, exploring the “hippie chic” of the time. The women’s collection is full of ruffles, details and complex stylings, harking back to Garavani’s masterful craftsmanship.
There are also flowing skirts and pleated blouses, a coat with an intricate batik motif, an embroidered floral minidress, and a tweed suit with sequined cuffs and collar. Valentino’s signature red appears in the form of a shrunken sweater with small bows. The colour palette is dominated by creams, off-whites and beiges, inspired by Garavani’s historic collection from 1968. The V logo adorns the patterns of coats and suits, while tops are emblazoned with the words “Chez Valentino Rome/Paris.” The collection is also complemented by accessories – strands of pearls, large earrings and floral brooches, embroidered clutches, crocodile handbags, suede bags with fringes, pumps with bows and cork platform sneakers.
