It wouldn't have been an open secret for very long. The information was already circulating conditionally in the Italian press. It's official today. A few days after announcing the departure of Pierpaolo Piccioli, the artistic director of Valentino for 16 years, the Roman house has just confirmed the appointment to his position of Alessandro Michele, who left Gucci in November 2022.
Read alsoLuxury in shock, designer Alessandro Michele leaves Gucci
Great prize of war for the Roman house in the bosom of the Mayhoola for Investments holding company. The fifty-year-old Roman, in seven years of reign at Gucci, had propelled the Milanese luxury house to the rank of pop phenomenon, causing its turnover to jump to represent (in 2021) 55% of the 17.6 billion euros. euros of sales of the Kering group, its owner.
This “surprise” appointment, announced a few minutes before the official press release by Vogue, therefore puts an end to 14 months of speculation about where Michele would resurface after his departure from Gucci. Some predicted it at Dior, others Fendi or even Bulgari. So it will be Valentino. “
It’s an incredible honor
,” Michele said of her nomination today, we could read on the American magazine’s website.
I feel an immense joy and a great responsibility to join a Couture House where the word beauty is engraved in a collective history made of distinctive elegance, refinement and extreme grace.
“
Over the past twelve years, we have dedicated our time and resources to growing the Maison Valentino brand and business into a world-class fashion house, built on the unique heritage and creativity of M Valentino Garavani, representing the best world of elegance and beauty
, said, for his part, Rachid Mohamed Rachid, President Valentino.
We have managed to multiply by five the reputation and size of the House of Valentino, all by winning the loyalty and appreciation of our customers. The appointment of Alessandro Michele marks a new turning point for the House of Valentino. Michele is an exceptional talent and his appointment underlines our great ambitions for the House of Valentino. I am convinced that with his unique creativity and sensitivity, he will continue to highlight the eternal heritage of the brand and the unique identity of the Italian Couture House. With Alessandro Michele, a new page of excellence and infinite beauty is ready to be written in the history of Valentino
".
Fans of the
freak chic
universe , the maximalist style tinged with vintage influences of the star designer with the false air of a guru can therefore rejoice. The fifty-year-old, enlightened lover of the Renaissance and French philosophers, accompanied by his network of star friends as devoted as they are influential (headed by Harry Styles, Jared Leto and Dakota Johnson - with whom he was still strolling the streets of Rome these past last days) as well as his incredible sense of spectacle should delight the red carpets of Hollywood and elsewhere. One of the trademarks of founder Valentino Garavani who, in his time, dressed Elizabeth Taylor, Jackie O and Julia Roberts. For the catwalks, we will have to wait until the spring/summer 2025 season, i.e. fashion week next September in Paris.