Valentino to Show Fall 2026 in Rome

- The choice of venue coincides with a major exhibition at the Palazzo Barberini titled "Bernini and the Barberini," which celebrates the partnership between artist Gian Lorenzo Bernini and his patron Pope Urban VIII, a relationship that defined the Roman Baroque era. - Alessandro Michele, who was appointed Creative Director in March 2024, has already released a surprise 171-look Resort 2025 collection titled “Avant les Débuts” ("Before the Beginning"), signaling a prolific and fast-paced creative direction. - This show marks a significant return to Valentino's roots, as the house was founded by Valentino Garavani in Rome in 1960 on the Via Condotti. - The parent company of Michele's former employer, Kering, acquired a 30% stake in Valentino from the Qatari fund Mayhoola, with an option to acquire 100% of the company by 2028. - During his tenure at Gucci (2015-2022), Michele was credited with more than doubling brand revenues, from roughly $4.5 billion to $10 billion between 2016 and 2019, setting high commercial expectations for his role at Valentino. - Since Michele's arrival, Valentino has altered its show strategy, announcing it will present haute couture only once annually and will combine its men's and women's ready-to-wear collections. - Michele's early celebrity dressing for Valentino has included long-time muses like Harry Styles and Jared Leto, as well as stars like Lana Del Rey, Daisy Edgar-Jones, and Colman Domingo, indicating a continuation of his celebrity-centric approach. - The brand recently faced online criticism for an AI-generated campaign for its Garavani Devain bag, with users calling it "cheap" and misaligned with the house's reputation for craftsmanship, highlighting a key tension between tech innovation and luxury heritage.