Alessandro Michele - Designer, Creative Director of Valentino

[jeanclaude]

To sum up: Valentino has houses, AM has antiques storages.

 

[MagFan]

 

[FashionPower]

Most Gucci customers (and the fashion pack in general) were already experiencing fatigue from Lallo's aesthetic towards the end of his tenure...how could they think that rebranding Valentino with the same tiring aesthetic and vision would have worked in a different brand expecting comparable results?
No one likes stale food that has been re-heated...
Also, showing couture once per year is a huge mistake: less looks = less pieces shown = lower opportunity from ultra rich to select something they like = lower sales

 

[PDFSD]

Valentino Faces Uncertainty as CEO Takes Sick Leave Amid Profit Slowdown​

A possible change of CEO would, if confirmed, pile further pressure on the high-end business which reported a decline in revenues and profit last year.

Alessandro Michele and Jacopo Venturini at the 2025 Met Gala Celebrating "Superfine: Tailoring Black Style." (Getty Images)

By Reuters
30 June 2025
BoF PROFESSIONAL


Italian luxury brand Valentino said on Monday its chief executive Jacopo Venturini was currently on sick leave, responding to media reports of his imminent departure.

A possible change of CEO would, if confirmed, pile further pressure on the high-end business which reported a decline in revenues and profit last year.

Italian fashion blog “The platform” reported on Sunday that the Italian manager, who took the role in 2020, was about to leave the group in order to have more time for himself.

Contacted by Reuters, the Rome-based group, controlled by Qatari investment fund Mayhoola, sent a short statement saying the executive was on sick leave, without providing further details.


Gucci-owner Kering bought a 30 percent stake in Valentino in 2023 for $1.7 billion with a commitment to buy the remaining 70 percent by 2028, hoping to create a second flagship label rooted in high couture.

Valentino, which last year named star designer Alessandro Michele as creative director to replace long-serving Pierpaolo Piccioli, reported a 2 percent drop at constant exchange rates in revenues last year, to €1.31 billion ($1.54 billion).

Its core profit declined 22 percent to €246 million, with the wider industry facing a demand slowdown and challenging economic backdrop.

Michele’s new collection, which arrived in stores only in the last quarter of 2024, according to documents registered at the local chamber of commerce, is yet to convince customers, three sources close to the matter said.

Valentino’s usual customers are not buying much of the collection and new converts have been slow to emerge, the sources said.

Valentino wasn’t immediately available for a comment about the new collection’s performance.

Kering’s purchasing deal included cross put and call options for Kering, which is struggling to relaunch its main brand Gucci, to purchase the whole of Valentino’s share capital from May 2026 through 2028.

Analysts are wondering about the timing of the acquisition of the remaining stake, as it could weigh on the company, which is already struggling to cut debt.

 

[PDFSD]

 

[PDFSD]

SUN DeLuxe​

Q2 25 and H1 25 will be very worrying, and 2026 will not be better.

The key mantras of the industry today:

Creative Directors: if you have been successful (for unspecified reasons that cannot be analyzed in order to avoid to discover the grey reality) in the brand X you must be successful in the brand Y. While they are rigid and stubborn and unable to have immersive experiences in the brands and let them help evolve their views. JW Anderson is the latest example, even if he seems “just a good boy”. The partnership with Luca Guadagnino is an example of how things could derail quickly if Bialobos doesn’t keep the reins tight. Blazy will be the same at Chanel. And Demna at Gucci (without the “good boy”).

And Alessandro Michele who seems to be in his way out at Valentino (it will take some time). Recruiters never take into consideration soft skills for this key role. They continue to pick full of oneself designers hiding behind a following of cheerleaders clapping at them on the social media, only waiting for free gifts and trips.

CEOs: the most important thing now is to pass the buck to somebody else, so that they can just survive and take bonuses until they can. They know the system is doomed. They themselves have undermined it at its foundations. So the fault of the imminent disaster will have to officially be on somebody else shoulders. They created hierarchies in companies based on this assumption, not to make them work.

 

[FashionPower]

It's very concerning to see Lallo's bag designs already on sale. The only bags that are not currently on sales are the Vain, the Viva Superstar and the Nellcote (for this one I mean...WTF???).
The 9to5 and the Quiltie (that one that looked from Guess) from Lallo and the PPP's designs are all on sale (the FW24 designs are still on sale)...
It's kinda obvious what designs are going to be discontinued starting from next season. I don't think both Lallo and the management were expecting such a huge flops in terms of bags and accessories in general.

 

[PDFSD]

It's very concerning to see Lallo's bag designs already on sale. The only bags that are not currently on sales are the Vain, the Viva Superstar and the Nellcote (for this one I mean...WTF???).
The 9to5 and the Quiltie (that one that looked from Guess) from Lallo and the PPP's designs are all on sale (the FW24 designs are still on sale)...
It's kinda obvious what designs are going to be discontinued starting from next season. I don't think both Lallo and the management were expecting such a huge flops in terms of bags and accessories in general.

Clearly not everyone can pull a Hedi :-)

Pulling A Hedi Meaning :

Reform a bands image and perception around your ideas of style and obsessions into a visually and commercial successful entity and then leave it at a high point because you won't compromise.

What does Hedi mean :

As in Arabic (which the name came from) it's written هادي (Hadi/Haadee). It means “leader” or “guide.”

What is the meaning of Hedi :

Meaning of Hedi: Hedi means 'delight' in Hebrew. Gender. Female. Origin. Hebrew


Lol

 

[vetements]

If it is indeed true that he is going to get the boot then I really feel sorry for him. Not that I love all his designs at the new Valentino but the industry as a whole, where for a few seasons you couldnt meet the numbers and out you go at the click of a finger.

People need time to warm up to new things and designers need feedback to improvise on what they do to do better...

Although I agree very much with PDFSD that not everyone is a Hedi, he is truly a genius, a tastemaker if you want to call it that way. I like Hedi for what he delivers although I dont necessarily can wear all of his clothes but I love the Celine Universe he has created, he is really the one and only living designer that can do something like that (pretty sure he is not a fan of Lisa but he knows what to do to create demand albeit after a few seasons too).

 

[PDFSD]

If it is indeed true that he is going to get the boot then I really feel sorry for him. Not that I love all his designs at the new Valentino but the industry as a whole, where for a few seasons you couldn't meet the numbers and out you go at the click of a finger.

People need time to warm up to new things and designers need feedback to improvise on what they do to do better...

Although I agree very much with PDFSD that not everyone is a Hedi, he is truly a genius, a tastemaker if you want to call it that way. I like Hedi for what he delivers although I don't necessarily can wear all of his clothes but I love the Celine Universe he has created, he is really the one and only living designer that can do something like that (pretty sure he is not a fan of Lisa but he knows what to do to create demand albeit after a few seasons too).

I can see old Valentino clients go to new balenciaga under PPP to get their fix for day wear /cocktail / evening rtw fix and acc that are not boho pagan hippy 24/7.

Than there is no need to force oneself to try to find stuff at Current Valentino any more as PPP easy digested designs will serve the clients for the next years just fine!!!

 

[vetements]

I can see old Valentino clients go to new balenciaga under PPP to get their fix for day wear /cocktail / evening rtw fix and acc that are not boho pagan hippy 24/7.

Than there is no need to force oneself to try to find stuff at Current Valentino any more as PPP easy digested designs will serve the clients for the next years just fine!!!

hhmm, how about the ex Gucci fans before Ancora? or those looks are deemed passe already? but it is a `look` right? and no current big name designers are producing that `look`...

 

[PDFSD]

hhmm, how about the ex Gucci fans before Ancora? or those looks are deemed passe already? but it is a `look` right? and no current big name designers are producing that `look`...

Gucci logo fans /clients are there pre and post ancora ......but !!!!! its not an discerning client base any ways.

The big push Gucci had was from a new generation of younger consumers in Europe, the US and China.

That's why post pandemic and when the focus shifted to value retention luxury, when it came to luxury brands the youngster moved on to use money on experiences travels or spend less than top clients that kept hermes chanel dior growing /explosion, because they had a more mature offering and acc that kept or increased in resale market value.

The 1 percent sustained and grew these brands that had kept some focus on the value of craft and know how etc and prestige above all (investment value idea of luxury fashion)

That's where the brief came for Gucci to shift even under Lallo´s final years and he refused to have the historical part be again a core focus in order to gain more top spenders that mostly where scared off by the overt styling and weak value retention of Gucci leather goods as fashion via the birkin is more valuable than gold as investment (hence chanel doing so many price increases )

These younger clients when they went back into buying high fashion moved to other new hyped brands etc once they felt or could afford to spend again.

All big brands look for the top spenders that's why you have 300k LV trunks in shows and Speedy P9 for 10K dior men coats for 200k ......the mid level spenders just buy wallets and canvas and sneakers etc but they are in more :-)

you can see what keep gucci lights on is the lowest of the product categories not so much a look

Demna loves bad taste much as Lallo does so the logo fans will be happy and they might attract new ones as well i won't be surprised.

 

[yslforever]

It's very concerning to see Lallo's bag designs already on sale. The only bags that are not currently on sales are the Vain, the Viva Superstar and the Nellcote (for this one I mean...WTF???).
The 9to5 and the Quiltie (that one that looked from Guess) from Lallo and the PPP's designs are all on sale (the FW24 designs are still on sale)...
It's kinda obvious what designs are going to be discontinued starting from next season. I don't think both Lallo and the management were expecting such a huge flops in terms of bags and accessories in general.

Thanks for the info; I might score some Bay by Bay sneakers and the grey linen jacket...
Otherwise, yes, Lallo flopped hard with the accessories...

 

[Frederic01]

At Kering, the situation is starting to look increasingly apocalyptic. After Pinault’s departure from the role of CEO, plummeting revenues, and creative reshuffles that have destabilized the entire luxury landscape, it now seems that, after Gucci and Balenciaga, in the eye of the storm is now Valentino. Yesterday, several media outlets speculated – after a first announcement by Miss Tweed – that the CEO of the Roman brand, Jacopo Venturini, is close to stepping down. Venturini began his journey at Valentino in 2020, after four years at Gucci, where he worked closely with Alessandro Michele in his role as creative director. Further complicating the picture, Valentino officially stated yesterday that Jacopo Venturini is currently on sick leave, thus responding to the circulating rumors about his imminent departure.

As reported by Business of Fashion, a potential CEO change would further intensify the pressure on the Roman brand, which had already recorded a 2% revenue drop in 2023, down to €1.31 billion, and a sharp 22% decline in profits, falling to just €246 million. A crisis that shows no signs of easing, especially considering the lukewarm reception of the first collection designed by Alessandro Michele for Valentino, which arrived in stores only in the last quarter of 2024. According to internal sources, the new line is struggling to win over both loyal clients and potential new consumers. Michele’s creative flair and aesthetics may have been too drastic a shift for Valentino’s loyal customers, who were used to a more classic kind of luxury under the creative direction of Pierpaolo Piccioli. Making matters worse is the overall crisis of the luxury sector, coupled with waning consumer interest in investing in ready-to-wear, traditionally a core focus for Valentino compared to accessories.

In this already precarious context, rumors from the capital not only confirm Venturini’s imminent departure but also suggest a growing precariousness in Michele’s position itself. According to Il Foglio Quotidiano, internal sources at the maison describe a difficult work environment marked by tensions and disagreements, especially for those who are not part of the large team Michele brought with him upon his arrival. Further complicating the scenario are the tense relations with Giancarlo Giammetti, co-founder of Valentino and longtime partner of Garavani, who recently expressed public discontent over some of Michele’s comments on the concept of beauty via the popular Instagram account @fashioncricket.

Rumors of Michele’s potential exit are becoming increasingly insistent, further fueled by his conspicuous absence at the celebratory dinner for the opening of the PM23 Foundation by Giammetti and Valentino Garavani; an event attended, instead, by his predecessors Pierpaolo Piccioli and Maria Grazia Chiuri. The situation becomes even more puzzling considering some rumors from Rome, suggesting that Venturini had spent recent months first isolated in his Milan office and later confined to his home, fueling speculation of burnout. On the other hand, according to Miss Tweed, Mayhoola – the Qatari group holding the majority stake in the Maison – is reportedly still convinced by Michele’s direction and has no intention of giving up on the Roman designer’s vision, despite the poor commercial results. Are the tides turning just in time for the start of summer?

NSS MAGAZINE

 

[Lola701]

The minute I saw the toilet show, I knew GG wasn’t going to like it. His interview with Imran only confirmed that. When he talked about designer’s ego and them not working for the service of the brand…
It was so obvious.

 

[PDFSD]

i guess the a drop of blood is the water and the sharks are coming lol

SUN DeLuxe
8 July 2025

Valentino is not going to show haute couture this season.

It seems that Alessandro Michele wants to show couture once a year.

It seems that some of his closest collaborators were on holiday until last week...of course, it's summertime.

❓Last (and first) Michele couture show had a standing ovation by a cheerleading audience but it seems that sales are not doing well at the Maison.
When Alessandro joined he took his team along and many designers and employees were laid off to make space for them.
Recently on Il Foglio Quotidiano there was an article by Fabiana Giacomotti highlighting the fact that it seems that the most loyal high spenders refused to go to the showroom to buy Michele collections for Valentino

⏸️Valentino CEO Jacopo Venturini is on sick leave
💸The brand is owned 70% by Mayhoola and 30% by Kering, the latter is expected to acquire the remaining 70% in two years (or the remnants of what it will be if it continues like this).

❓Is Alessandro Michele going to be replaced by Maria Grazia Chiuri? Very likely but only if the new CEO is not Francesca Bellettini…
Chiuri is too strong and tough for her management style

How long does it take to take the reins of what it seems to be a drift and change direction?
Is it just a matter of admitting the mistake and take accountability of it?
Why it seems so difficult to design a brand governance based on rational analysis instead of just "gut" instincts or personal point of views?

In these two pictures one is Alessandro Michele for Valentino and the other one an iconic advertising campaign of the brand in the 90s...

Why everybody is neglecting the customer?

Don't they know that the customer is king? And the brand is queen?

 

[callmejaeden]

In these two pictures one is Alessandro Michele for Valentino and the other one an iconic advertising campaign of the brand in the 90s...

Don't they know that the customer is king? And the brand is queen?

Could you not say that Michele's Valentino is a closer (and frumpier) vision of early Valentino than the Viva Valentino campaign? I do understand the author's POV and agree that if styled more minimalistically or casually, Lallo's Valentino would be more popular with the PPP customer.

 

[PDFSD]

Could you not say that Michele's Valentino is a closer (and frumpier) vision of early Valentino than the Viva Valentino campaign? I do understand the author's POV and agree that if styled more minimalistically or casually, Lallo's Valentino would be more popular with the PPP customer.
View attachment 1393932

i feel she some times hammers onto somethings but her points on detail are not always on point.

Also her comparison i don't get lol i think valentino had other more iconic ads or looks to underline what everyone is saying what is missing at current valentino..... which is what makes it valentino??!! opposed to vintage 90´ 80´ 70´s 60s lady clothes remix Lallo is so obsessed with etc

also she should know that they said they will do only one couture show per year this should be in her basic notes on teh company lol

the shade is funny ...It seems that some of his closest collaborators were on holiday until last week........like why are they not working when the ship is sinking lol

 

[pradn]

❓Is Alessandro Michele going to be replaced by Maria Grazia Chiuri? Very likely but only if the new CEO is not Francesca Bellettini…
Chiuri is too strong and tough for her management style

Ughh… I really, really hate to admit this..
As much as I can’t stand Martha Grace, she’s definitely a better fit than AM for the role.
And honestly? I wouldn’t mind if she held the throne longer than Pierpaolo.
And let’s be real..sales didn’t exactly explode under AM either.
His Gucci magic didn’t survive the time jump,
so expecting him to resurrect Valentino?
Yeah… no thanks.
At least under Martha's, sales were safe..

That being said…
if they do plan to replace AM with someone new, my first pick would be Alexandre Vauthier.
God, I miss the sexy Valentino era!
He could actually bring it back: skin, silhouette, and just the right amount of scandal.

 

[tigerrouge]

People who hire Alessandro know that he's going to recreate versions of the same world around him wherever he goes, but they wanted to believe it would translate into instant sales and easy profits, without consideration for the harmony of the brand, which is much harder to account for.

I wouldn't dislike Alessandro Michele for doing what he does - but his vision doesn't resonate with Valentino. He could always try really tuning into it, but that might represent the type of compromise that some creatives think represents a fate worth than death, even though 'compromise' is what everyone else does, on a daily basis, to get something out the door, onto the shelves and into people's wardrobes.