There’s a shake up at Valentino – something that design and fashion aficionados got a wind of just about a week ago. Pierpaolo Piccioli had a sudden exit from Valentino – after 25 years at this brand – and that news devastated the fans of this brand, and the designer. Employees, too, were shattered.
And then speculation swirled, which has now been put to rest. Alessandro Michele, an ex-Gucci who was, by the way, replaced by Sabato de Sarno – an ex-Valentino – at Gucci, is now going to helm this slower, more legacy, sophisticated brand. Mr. Michele will join as the Creative Director, effective April 2, 2024.
“The appointment of Alessandro Michele marks another pivotal moment for Maison Valentino. Michele is an exceptional talent and his appointment underlines our great ambitions for Maison Valentino. I strongly believe that with his unique creativity and sensibility, he will continue the elevation of the brand’s everlasting heritage and unique Italian Maison de Couture identity. With Alessandro Michele a new page of excellence and endless beauty is ready to be written in the history of Valentino,” said Rachid Mohamed Rachid, Chairman, Valentino.
Valentino has always had a very elegant design language with colors and cuts defining a fluid, Romanesque, seductive collections under the aegis of Mr. Piccioli. Mr. Michele operates on the opposing spectrum – as demonstrated with his work at Gucci – where he reigned with an androgynous, flamboyant, multicoloured extravaganza. Will Valentino change its identity? That remains to be seen.
“I feel the immense joy and the huge responsibility to join a Maison de Couture that has the word ‘beauty’ carved on a collective story, made of distinctive elegance, refinement and extreme grace. My first thought goes to this story: to the richness of its cultural and symbolic heritage, to the sense of wonder it constantly generates, to the very precious identity given with their wildest love by founding fathers, Valentino Garavani and Giancarlo Giammetti. These references always represented an essential source of inspiration for me, and I’m going to praise such influence through my own interpretation and creative vision,” Mr. Michele said.
The first collection by Mr. Michele will be presented during Paris Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2025.