This just in: Alessandro Michele’s appointment at Valentino has been officially confirmed.
Alessandro Michele will take over the role of creative director at Valentino beginning Tuesday, April 2nd, Vogue Business has confirmed. His first collection for the House will debut in September for the Spring/Summer 2025 season.
Michele’s appointment signifies a new chapter for Valentino, and for the designer himself, it will mark the first time he will spearhead the design of haute couture collections. An unmistakable change-maker and visionary of our time, his debut will be the one to watch next season.
“It’s an incredible honour for me to be welcomed at Maison Valentino. I feel the immense joy and the huge responsibility to join a Maison de Couture that has the word ‘beauty’ carved on a collective story made of distinctive elegance, refinement, and extreme grace.” -Alessandro Michele
A Defining Era
On Friday, it was announced that Pierpaolo Piccioli would depart Valentino after 25 years at the house. The mutual agreement sent shockwaves around the fashion world over the weekend.
The beloved designer had been at the brand’s helm since he was awarded the position of solo creative director in 2016 with the departure of Dior’s Maria Grazia Chiuri.
Picciolo’s time at Valentino has been heralded as one of the brand’s greatest eras, helping to redefine Valentino’s new chapter after the retirement of the House’s namesake founder, Valentino Garavani.
Known for his use of studs, color, and romantic silhouettes, his most recent collection was celebrated as one of his best. Praised for his magical, dreamy aesthetic and pieces that combined ease of wear with unmistakable elegance, Piccioli was a visionary who will certainly be missed.
The designer released a heartfelt message celebrating his over two decades at Valentino, which thanked Mr. Garavani and longtime business partner Giancarlo Giammetti.
“I have been in this company for 25 years, and for 25 years I have existed and lived together with the people who have woven with me the plots of this beautiful story that is mine and ours,” part of his statement read.
Designer Shakeups
The designer’s next move is unknown; however, rumors of who will fill Picciolo’s shoes have begun to swirl, though no official word has yet been released. Valentino’s statement concluded that it would announce a successor soon.
In the world of luxury fashion, it’s incredibly common for designers to play musical chairs. In the last decade alone, there have been several noteworthy (and some shocking, swaps). That being said, the guessing game immediately begins when a designer departs.
After departing Gucci in late 2022, Alessandro Michele is now rumored to be Piccioli’s successor, several sources reported to WWD. The outlet also reported that the former creative director of Gucci’s non-compete is said to expire this month, which has led many to speculate about his next move.
Of course, time will tell, and in the interim, the House announced yesterday that it would be sitting out menswear and haute couture week in the wake of Picciolo’s exit.
