In the realm of prolific fashion designers, there’s “hitting the ground running”, and then there’s Alessandro Michele-levels of creative outbursts. Just two months after taking over the coveted role of Creative Director for the legendary Italian luxury fashion house, Michele – the Italian maximalist fresh off a tenure as Creative Director at Gucci – has dominated the discourse with his first resort collection, Avant les Débuts.
The sweeping campaign includes 171 meticulously ornate but still-ready-to-wear looks and 93 accessories including shoes and bags.
According to Michele, the collection was inspired by a trip through the archives of the brand’s iconic founder, Valentino Garavani. Garavani’s taste, though generations earlier, reflects Michele’s – always adding, maximizing, and evoking opulence and excess. It was a natural creative sandbox for the fellow Italian creator.
Michele told editors that he is “deep in conversation” with his brand’s creative progenitor, seeking always to mirror the obsession with beauty that fathered its earliest designs. Keen eyes will spot a parallel with Garavani’s 1968 all-white collection and the presence of clean complexity in this collection through pearls, gloves, and all-cream looks. Apart from its sheer size, Valentino Resort 2025 is also a nesting doll of layered possibilities. Permutations abound with a range of handbags, from classic silhouettes to fanny packs; all manner of footwear, from Mary Janes to leather boots to sneakers; an abundance of vintage-looking statement jewelry; hosiery for every look, from white knee-highs to boldly colored tights; an impressive range of headwear: headbands, scarves, turbans, baseball caps; as well as belts, gloves, ties and shawls.
That distinctive Valentino magic guided the new Creative Director’s hands and eyes as he crafted these hippy-chic, refined looks.
Of the 93 details included in the Valentino Resort 2025 collection, expect to find common elegant throughlines that pair with and complete the main looks, adorned logo maniacally with the iconic Valentino brandmark. Betraying a traditional ladylike elegance set against fur-trimmed outerwear, gold-chains, delicate gloves and tailored suits, the sumptuous nature of the collection develops a depth that catches more than just eyes – and all comes together when the details are just so.
The Valentino Resort 2025 collection is slated for a September runway debut and will be available in-store next year. In the meantime, shop Valentino on the Lower Level at Aventura Mall or call 786-396-0112 for more information.
