Two seasons into his tenure at Valentino, Creative Director Alessandro Michele has steered the house toward a more defined design philosophy. His Spring/Summer 2026 collection presented a noticeably more restrained approach, emphasizing structure over romance. Michele’s design language consciously intersected with founder Valentino Garavani’s original vision, treating beauty as a creed. Garavani’s lace and embroidery were recontextualized with symbolism and historical resonance. The color palette featured candlelit ivory, faded pomegranate, and sacrificial gold. Tailoring conveyed quiet power, with this season solidifying Michele’s voice within the Valentino atelier — less sacred, more poetic.