Alessandro Michele
In love with beauty and places rich in history, art, and culture, Alessandro Michele has left an indelible mark on the traditions of our time, defining genderless aesthetics like no other. Beloved by celebrities and the fashion establishment, he is now preparing for a new challenge: leading Maison Valentino.
Alessandro Michele by Pierre-Ange CarlottiPierre-Ange Carlotti
The creative director says, “Today I am looking for the most suitable words to express joy, to pay homage to it: the smiles that kick in the chest, the sense of profound gratitude that lights up the eyes, that precious moment in which necessity and beauty reach out to each other. However, joy is such a living thing that I fear hurting it by saying it. May my bow with arms wide open be enough to celebrate the life that regenerates in this early spring and the promise of new blooms.” In September, we will see him on the catwalk with his very first collection, which is set to be presented in Paris for Spring/Summer 2025. At Gucci, Alessandro Michele not only brought the brand into the new millennium with a fusion of historical and bohemian echoes but also dressed all the stars in one fell swoop, effectively redefining the historical Maison. Additionally, he was able to represent the representations of a glorious past and revive them by making the brand objects of desire once more, such as the iconic Jackie or the moccasins.
He has a very specific image that most, if we talk about immediate reactions, have some doubts about applying to a fashion house like Valentino, generally considered much more classic than Gucci. It is safe to say that Rome, the city where Valentino was founded and where Michele has long been fascinated, will once again serve as the brand's principal inspiration. Alessandro Michele famously remarked, "Beauty has no limits, rules, and colors." Valentino won't have any either, we guess. For the first time, he will develop Haute Couture collections and operate out of the ancient Palazzo di Piazza Mignanelli, which is located just behind Trinita dei Monti. He will, first and foremost, immerse himself completely in the Maison's codes over these days. These guidelines had not disturbed Pierpaolo Piccioli, Valentino Garavani, the creator. Another interesting point is that he will return to Kering, which he departed in 2022. Many thanks to the sales decline that was just revealed for the first quarter of 2024, especially due to the problems facing the flagship brand Gucci, which is predicted to have a 20% decline. Furthermore, it's evident from the cold figures that Michele was the only one who drove Gucci to such impressive results, at least in the early going during his creative direction. Though he knew him well from his years working alongside him as director of marketing and products at Gucci, Jacopo Venturini, CEO of Valentino, was also influential in the new position.
“Good work to Maison Valentino and the new creative director Alessandro Michele. While waiting to witness the new artistic journey of one of the most significant brands in Italian fashion, I want to give my welcome to Alessandro Michele and at the same time thank Pierpaolo Piccioli for the affection and generosity shown to the city of Rome," said Alessandro Onorato, councilor of Rome Capital for major events, sport, fashion, and tourism.
We are looking forward to Valentino's new collection and Michele's designs. I think we will see more of the influence of Rome in Valentino than in Gucci. Welcome home, Alessandro Michele...
