The vertigo - Alessandro Michele's first couture collection for Valentino... A Show we won't forget

The vertigo - Alessandro Michele's first couture collection for Valentino... A Show we won't forget

Absolutely, hands down... a show we won't forget. Valentino's new artistic director, Alessandro Michele, made a bold statement with his debut Haute Couture collection, "Vertigineux." The show, held at the Palais Brongniart in Paris, was a sensory overload, foreshadowed by the handcrafted soap invitation and the striking set design.
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Alessandro Michele’s Valentino couture debut was the most anticipated ticket of Paris Couture Week, and the designer didn't disappoint. From the way the invitations were sent out... a literal soap invitation that was letting everyone know 'vertigo/dizzy' may be a factor at his show.
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Michele, who previously spent nearly eight years redefining Gucci with his eclectic, gender-fluid maximalism, has long drawn inspiration from history. It's an obsession that traces back to his childhood in Rome, where he would rummage through his mother’s closet, captivated by the textures of bygone eras.
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The runway was dominated by a massive digital panel displaying an endless stream of words and images that inspired the collection. The show notes, drawing from Umberto Eco's "Vertigo of Lists," further explored the vast array of references and details behind the designs.

The collection itself was a breathtaking display of intricate craftsmanship and historical inspiration. From the opening look, a gown that took 1,300 hours to create, to the exaggerated volumes and rich embellishments that followed, each piece was a testament to Michele's vision. The color palette, inspired by botany and antiquity, added to the sense of historical weight, while the use of patchwork, embroidery, and quilting served as a visual representation of the collection's narrative depth.

Michele's debut collection for Valentino was a bold and ambitious exploration of fashion's ability to tell stories and capture the complexity of human experience.

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