A Journey Through Time: Valentino Spring-Summer 2025

The Valentino Spring-Summer 2025 collection is a captivating exploration of fragility, beauty, and the ephemeral nature of life. Creative Director Alessandro Michele draws inspiration from the inherent vulnerability of human existence, reflecting on our constant exposure to the limits of time, our reliance on instinct, and our search for meaning amidst uncertainty. 

"We are fragile creatures," he muses, "constantly exposed to the sense of limit. We tiptoe on mirrors that shatter under our weight." He posits that this very fragility is what grants our journey through time its true meaning. "What sense would our terrestrial transit have if it were not determined by time, but were infinite?" This journey of exploration leads him to consider the nature of beauty itself. Drawing inspiration from the words of Théophile Gautier, Michele posits that "the truly beautiful is that which serves no purpose," as it transcends the realm of logic and need.

He observes the beauty of flowers, recognizing that their dazzling colors, while seemingly purposeless, serve a vital role in pollination. The bees, guided by their aesthetic sensibilities, navigate a maze of colorful shapes, driven by their instinctive search for beauty. Beauty, he suggests, is not a universal, dogmatic concept but rather a personal experience of revelation, an unveiling of a new universe of meaning. It is the moment when connections between ourselves, things, and living beings become clear.

The newly-appointed creative director draws upon the philosophy of Martin Heidegger, who defines beauty as alètheia; an unveiling revelation. This revelation, he states, is "the power through which one looks at the powerlessness of things," a spark of light that protects us from the darkness of meaninglessness. It is the fragile but precious thread that allows us to navigate the abyss of transience, offering solace and beauty in a world constantly in flux. 

Photo Credits: @Valentino