Valentino's daring fashion show transforms a public bathroom into a bold fashion statement redefining luxury and boundaries

Amid the dazzling parties and star-studded front rows of Paris Fashion Week, the most sought-after event in the French capital on Sunday afternoon was... a public restroom. Or at least, a venue designed to resemble one.

Celebrities like Barry Keoghan, Chappell Roan, and Jared Leto posed for photos next to sinks equipped with mirrors and wall-mounted soap dispensers.

Attendees from the fashion industry took their seats facing a row of toilet stalls, while the sound of flushing marked the beginning of the show.

This was Valentino's Fall-Winter 2025 collection, where the brand’s creative director, Alessandro Michele, transformed a Paris venue into a surreal bathroom scene, complete with tiled floors and ceiling strip lights.

Models appeared from (and sometimes disappeared into) mock cubicles, illuminated by red lighting, showcasing Michele's latest prêt-à-porter designs.

Titled "Le Méta-Théâtre Des Intimités" (or "The Meta-Theater of Intimacies"), the presentation was a clear expression of Michele’s vision, who took over Valentino last March after two decades at Gucci.

Michele described the set as a “dystopian, unsettling” environment, influenced by the works of director David Lynch.

In his show notes, he drew from philosophers and poets like Michel Foucault, Hannah Arendt, and Mario Perniola, explaining that a public restroom acts as a "counter-place" that blurs the boundaries between the private and the public, the intimate and the visible.

Michele’s collection reflected this concept as well. Lingerie was worn over outer garments or exposed through sheer lace, while one model in light, thigh-high shorts was followed by another almost entirely cloaked in black. A luxurious bathrobe was paired with a shirt and tie, creating an unexpected yet stylish ensemble.

The collection also included everything from sparkling evening gowns to thick winter coats in materials such as flowing tulle and textured faux furs.

Each piece embodied the theatricality expected from Michele, a designer with a background in costume design. Many models sported a variety of headwear, ranging from nude headbands to wide-brimmed hats and military-style caps.

Michele’s designs marked a notable shift from the more traditional, elegant vision of Valentino, previously crafted by Pierpaolo Piccioli, who had drawn inspiration from the brand’s haute couture legacy.

Three years ago, during a Paris Fashion Week show, Piccioli dressed all of his models in almost identical shades of bright pink.

Michele’s collection also seemed more politically charged than what Valentino is typically known for. His show, in which androgynous models showcased both men’s and women’s fashion, appeared to make a statement on the ongoing debates surrounding transgender bathrooms, suggesting that his interpretation of the restroom was “proudly political” in its challenge to rigid binary gender classifications.

Although this was just Michele’s second ready-to-wear collection for Valentino, the reception was positive. Guests applauded and cheered as Michele took the stage, before also retreating into one of the cubicles, continuing his avant-garde approach to fashion.