Valentino served up a heaping dose of optimism in its spring 2026 collection. The October 5 runway show was a cautiously curated take on creative director Alessandro Michele’s signature aesthetic, which usually involves a frenzy of florals, antique inspiration, sequins, and silk gowns in sumptuous shades. Michele draws heavily from vintage influences—the 1970s, 1980s, and beyond. This season was no exception. The lineup was filled with displays from every era of glamour, and for all genders too.

This time around, Michele honed in on embroidery, embellishment, and designing for dramatic refinery, yet with a gentler, more quietly restrained hand than seen in his previous work. True to Michele’s trademark, the most extreme pieces in the collection represented dressing up as an art form. Bow-

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