Valentino Disrupts Fashion Norms with Rome Show, Michele’s ‘Interference’ Collection
Rome, Italy – Alessandro Michele, creative director of Valentino, presented the maison’s Autumn/Winter 2026/27 ready-to-wear collection in a striking departure from tradition, choosing Rome’s Palazzo Barberini over the usual Paris fashion week circuit. The show, held earlier this week, drew a star-studded crowd including Gwyneth Paltrow, Georgina Rodriguez, and Colman Domingo.
The choice of venue, a baroque palace integrating a previous villa, wasn’t accidental. Michele described the Palazzo Barberini as the “ideal container” for a fashion show, embodying the “forced coexistence of order and permanent friction” that defines both the architecture and his latest designs. This concept of “interference” permeated the entire presentation, from the invitation – a replica of a hidden button from a cardinal’s vestment accompanied by the Latin phrase Quod est perenne gaudium requirere (to seek perpetual joy) – to the garments themselves.
“My work is all interference. I myself am an interference because I am in place of another,” Michele reflected, hinting at the deliberate disruption at the heart of his creative process.
The collection itself embraced this ethos. Michele showcased a deliberate mix of opposing elements: wide pleats layered over long dresses, asymmetrical coats blending smooth and pleated fabrics, and unexpected color combinations like pink and violet, orange and green. The use of pleating, a technique Michele confessed to falling in love with during his time at Valentino, was particularly prominent, appearing in diaphanous long dresses and skirts.
Silhouettes were fluid and often oversized, with men’s wear featuring draped jackets, leather coats, and soft trousers. A single, striking red dress served as an homage to Valentino Garavani, the house’s founder. Accessories included numerous shoulder bags for both men and women.
Michele’s vision extends beyond aesthetics. He aims to challenge the “predictable classicism that generates boredom,” injecting a sense of imperfection and unexpectedness into the world of high fashion. He likened Rome itself to his own creative spirit: “Rome was born straight but then became wonderfully crooked like me. That’s why I love it. It’s beautiful.”
The show followed a preview of sculptures by Gian Lorenzo Bernini, and concluded with a musical performance by Lily Allen at Palazzo Ludovisi. The event, reported by ANSA, underscored Valentino’s commitment to celebrating Italian artistry and culture.
