Valentino's public toilet: The hottest place in Paris

Valentino's public toilet: The hottest place in Paris

In the middle of the glittering parties and the prominent front series of the Paris Fashion Week was the hottest ticket in the French capital on Sunday afternoon ... Or at least an event location that was designed.

an unmistakable ambience

Celebrities such as Barry Keoghan, Chappell Roan and Jared Leto posed for photos next to sinks, equipped with mirrors and wall -mounted soap dispensers. The guests of the fashion industry took their seats with a view of a number of toilet cabins before the sound of the rinsing signaled that the event had started.

Valentino presented: “Le méta-théâtre des intimités”

This was the autumn winter 2025 show by Valentino, in which the creative director Alessandro Michele turned an event location in Paris into an atmospheric bathroom, completely with tiled floors and ceiling lamps. Models started (and sometimes disappeared into) reproduced cabins, wrapped in red light, and wore the latest ready-to-wear creations of the designer.

a statement by Alessandro Michele

Michele called the presentation “Le Méta-Théâtre des intimité” and made a clear statement. He took over the management of Valentino in March, after two decades at Gucci. In his show notes, Michele described his set as a “dystopian, disturbing” space, inspired by the late director David Lynch . He referred to poets and philosophers like Michel Foucault, Hannah Arendt and Mario Perniola and explained that a public bathroom is a “counter site” that cancel the border between inside and outside, between the deeply intimate and the inevitable public.

innovative designs and political statement

Michèles collection continued to pursue this idea. Underwear was carried through outerwear or made visible by transparent lace fabric; A model in bright, very short shorts was followed by another that was almost completely wrapped in black; A high -fashionable bathrobe was combined with a shirt and a tie. In addition, everything from glittering evening dresses to voluminous winter coats - out of materials such as falling tulle to fluffy synthetic fur - the type of theatrics that have now expected fashion observers from a man who was once trained as a costume designer.

an important change for Valentino

This mix-and-match collection was a significant change from the classically elegant vision that its predecessor Pierpaolo Piccioli designed. Piccioli had heavily relied on the house's skin couture heritage and had presented all of his models in almost identical, bright pink colors three years ago.

a sensational political Element

Michèle's vision could also be more political than the brand is used to. In a comment on the debates about transgender-friendly bathrooms, Michèles Show notes indicated that his bathroom (in which androgynous models presented both men and women's clothing) is "proud of political and ability to undermine every rigid binary classification."

a successful appearance

It is only the second ready-to-wear collection by Michele for the label, but the collection was well received by the guests, who applauded and cheered for the designer when the designer entered the stage and then also disappeared into a cabin.