“The things that look old and démodé are, like, the best,” Alessandro Michele told Vogue recently, shortly before he unveiled his first Valentino Haute Couture collection since being appointed artistic director at the house, as successor to Pierpaolo Piccioli. “Also, in a month, they are going to be super fashionable.”
Of course, Michele made his name by taking ostensibly old-fashioned, fusty or quaint pieces and making them look fresh – and desirable – at Gucci. Now he’s bringing that same magic to Valentino, and busy immersing himself in the archive of the 65-year-old house, so we shouldn’t be surprised to see that his first emerging hit for the brand is a retro one.
The Valentino Bowow pumps that featured prominently in Michele’s first collection at the maison, Resort 2025, would not look out of place in a grandmother’s shoe collection, what with their gently rounded toe, sensible heel – complete with a bejewelled micro V-logo – and feminine bow detail. The ’60s-inspired pump has since been spied on the front row at fashion week (and on Ariana Grande – no stranger to a dainty shoe – at the airport in Japan), often styled with white lace tights, for added church-ready appeal.
