Front Row at Valentino Spring 2026 Haute Couture
The Valentino Spring 2026 Haute Couture show took place during Paris Fashion Week on Wednesday, just days after the passing of the house’s founder. Creative director Alessandro Michele opened the show with a quiet tribute, honouring Valentino Garavani’s legacy by speaking of “elegance as memory, and beauty as something that outlives us.” It set a reflective tone for a collection rooted in emotion and excess.
The front row, meanwhile, delivered the kind of maximalist glamour we have come to expect from Valentino in this new era.
Maximalism Overload, Worn With Confidence
I am not entirely sure what to make of Dakota Johnson in this Valentino Pre-Fall 2026 look. My first reaction was that it feels chaotic and overwhelming, despite the dress being so short. There are simply too many ideas competing at once: the bold shoulders, feather cuffs, animal-print tie from the blouse, lurex shimmer, red lace tights, and Rockstuds. It is visually exhausting. That said, I watched her walk into the venue, and she was owning it. Even so, this is maximalism pushed beyond my personal threshold.
Styled by Kate Young.
Effortlessly Sixties
Kirsten Dunst continues to be one of Valentino’s safest bets because she understands her own limits. Rather than forcing herself into the louder end of the collection, she chose a bow-accented mini from the Spring 2026 collection that leans into a clean ’60s mood. It is neat, unfussy, and flattering. This is why her Valentino appearances so often succeed: the clothes never wear her.
Styled by Samantha McMillen.
Unexpected, But On Point
I never would have seen Tyla as a Valentino girl, yet this embellished mini from the Spring 2026 collection feels natural on her. The cut is sassy, the styling leans into the house signatures of excess, and the blue chiffon train brings a sense of drama that aligns with her stage persona. It is playful, glamorous, and confident, as is she.
Styled by Ron Hartleben.
Too Mature?
Some may read Lily Allen’s Valentino Spring 2026 look as leaning mature, but I’m here for the mod-meets-bourgeois energy. Surprisingly, she sells it to me.
Seventies Excess, Fully Embraced
Olandria Carthen went all in on a ’70s fantasy with this printed keyhole Valentino Resort 2026 gown trimmed with feathers, and the result is unapologetically high-glam. Yes, it feels like something Jennifer Lopez might wear, but that comparison works in her favour. The bold print, open neckline, and decorative trims combine into a look that thrives on excess, and Olandria carries it with ease.
Styled by The Reisman’s.
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