When Alessandro Michele’s launched his second Valentino ready-to-wear collection for autumn/winter 2025 , it was against the backdrop of a public restroom drenched floor-to-ceiling in vivid “Valentino red”. But what was more unexpected, perhaps, was the footwear cameo that accompanied Michele’s signature lace, florals and pussy bow creations: namely, Vans’s checkerboard slip-ons .

High-fashion collaborations have been two a penny over the last decade, but there was something about this particular pairing that not only reflected heritage brands’ continuing desire to tap into street culture, but also the complete high-fashion transformation of the iconic skater shoe.

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