Some designers create clothes. Alessandro Michele builds worlds. His latest ready-to-wear show for Valentino wasn’t just a collection; it was a cinematic experience—a meticulously crafted universe drenched in red light, charged with subversion, and layered with meaning.
From the moment guests emerged through the cubicle doors into what Michele described as a “dystopian, disturbing, Lynchian space,” it was clear: this wasn’t merely a fashion show. It was an invitation into a parallel reality, a commentary on intimacy, voyeurism, and self-construction in the digital age.
Jared Leto, ever the provocateur, was one of the first to recognize the gravitational pull of the mirrors—a space for self-reflection, quite literally. But beyond the Instagrammable moments, Michele posed a more profound question: What is intimacy when everything is performative? When private moments are curated for public consumption?
The Art of Undressing
This philosophy bled into the collection itself. Models emerged in states of undress—lace bodysuits left provocatively open, black velvet columns that evoked both power and restraint, and power-shouldered silhouettes that nodded to the “Chic Savages” era of the ‘80s. It was both exhibitionist and deeply introspective, much like the world we inhabit today.
Michele’s work is luxury storytelling at its most potent, where clothing is merely one component of a broader mythology. He understands that to create a truly iconic brand, one must construct a world, a belief system, a movement—and invite people inside.
The Power of Controlled Mystery
There’s a fine line between revelation and mystery, and Michele walks it with the precision of a master illusionist. He playfully challenges the Valentinologists, those who dissect his work, daring them to decode his references while always staying a step ahead.
Yet, for all his theatricality, he keeps the most vital element intact: mystique. His shows are hypnotic, unpredictable, and immersive—proof that in an era where brands often over-explain themselves, the most powerful move is to leave just enough unsaid.
A brand is not just what it sells; it’s what it symbolizes, what it whispers, what it withholds. Michele’s Valentino is a masterclass in this philosophy—an exploration of how fashion, when wielded correctly, becomes legend.