Valentino redefines its catwalk calendar

With the arrival of Alessandro Michele at the helm of style, Valentino is changing its catwalk programme. For 2025, the Roman luxury house is announcing a single show dedicated to haute couture, to be held in January in Paris, while for ready-to-wear, it plans to show its women's and men's collections together during Women's Fashion Week, also in the City of Light, whereas previously it presented its menswear during Fashion Week dedicated to men and haute couture, also in July.

“A timeless art form, the House's haute couture will come to life on the catwalk just once a year; a departure from the past that will further enhance its inspiration and artistic value,” Valentino said in a statement, adding that “with CEO Jacopo Venturini and creative director Alessandro Michele, the haute couture aspects of the brand will continue to develop and the craftsmanship that haute couture collections require will now be even more revered by giving it the luxury of time.”

Alessandro Michele's big debut is scheduled for the upcoming Paris Fashion Week dedicated to women's ready-to-wear spring/summer 2025, on September 29 at 3 p.m. The prolific Italian designer will return to the catwalks after more than a year of absence. His last show for Gucci, where he was creative director from 2015 to 2022, was in September 2022.

Known for his eclectic and abundant fashion, mixing genres and influences between eccentricity and classic pieces, he accompanied the relaunch of the Kering group's flagship brand for seven years before being fired in November 2022. Last March, he was appointed creative director of Valentino, succeeding Pierpaolo Piccioli. It should be remembered that the brand is owned by the Mayhoola investment company, the fund of the ruling family of Qatar, and 30% by Kering.

Last June, Alessandro Michele presented his first collection for Valentino, through a lookbook dedicated to the spring 2025 cruise collection. It was a dense first collection, rich in details and clearly signed by him.