Valentino paraded high fashion inside public toilets in one of the season’s most unexpected backdrops, especially for a house as classical as Valentino. The set was a meticulous recreation, down to the tiling, soap dispensers, mirrors and endless rows of stalls, all bathed in an unsettling, almost seedy red light.
Partly inspired by David Lynch, the space set the tone for Alessandro Michele’s provocative new vision. With a background in costume design, Michele infuses his collections with inspirations from theater and film, crafting narratives as much as he does garments. It was one of the standout shows in Paris this season, drawing a front row as eclectic as the collection itself. Chappell Roan, Parker Posey, Jared Leto and Barry Keoghan sat amid the crimson glow, their presence adding to the surreal energy of the day.
