Frivolousness is not useless” says the newly installed Valentino creative director in his first runway show that brimmed with possibility.

It’s been a while!” said Alessandro Michele with a chuckle on Sunday afternoon in Paris. The designer was holding a press conference following his Valentino debut, which marked the ex-Gucci maestro’s eagerly anticipated return to fashion and his first runway show in two years.

After being named creative director of Valentino this past spring, Alessandro Michele had just two months to prepare for resort 2025. On Sunday, the designer presented his inaugural show for the Roman house.

The atmosphere was electric with anticipation leading up to Alessandro Michele’s debut at Valentino on Sunday afternoon in Paris—undeniably the most coveted invite of the season. Instead of opting for the expected,

Michele channeled the founder's unbridled opulence with an eclectic collection that resurfaced many of his own obsessions.

Lovers of maximalist fashion have had an Alessandro Michele–sized hole in their hearts for the past two years. Absent from the runways has been his signature brand of eclectic energy, allowing quiet luxury brands to thrive.

W hen Alessandro Michele was announced as the new creative director at Valentino, lovers of maximalism and eccentricity rejoiced. In June, the designer dropped his resort collecti