Alessandro Michele Unveils 70s-Inspired Eyewear for Valentino at Pavillon des Folies
October 18, 2024
In a poetic exploration of beauty and fragility, Valentino presented its Spring-Summer 2025 collection at the Pavillon des Folies in Paris on September 29, 2024. Creative Director Alessandro Michele shared his profound meditation on human vulnerability and the transformative power of beauty through both a philosophical manifesto and a striking eyewear collection.
The event, held at 21 Avenue de La Porte de Châtillon, showcased Michele's latest vision: a carefully curated selection of sunglasses and optical frames. The collection's standout piece, a 1970s-inspired round sunglass design, exemplifies Michele's blend of technical complexity with deceptive simplicity. Crafted from lightweight metal with luxurious acetate temple tips, the frames feature the iconic VLogo set in knurled endpieces, available in three distinct variants including a decorative fashion piece with solid metal checkered lens discs.
This interplay between form and function reflects Michele's deeper meditation on beauty, expressed in his accompanying written manifesto, drawing parallels between life's transient nature and beauty's enduring power. "Beauty can represent a remedy for the anguish that arises from the ephemeral and undetermined nature of our destiny," Michele wrote, framing the collection as more than mere fashion accessories but as tangible expressions of his philosophical outlook.
The collection's retro-chic rectangular frames, sculpted from thick acetate with elegant milling throughout, echo Michele's contemplation of beauty as "anything but fleeting and inconsistent." These pieces, available in vintage-inspired colorways like Dark Havana and Ivory with V-Light Gold accents, demonstrate what Michele describes as beauty's ability to "cherish us in a hug that preserves the warmth of bodies."
As Valentino continues to evolve under Michele's creative direction, this presentation at the Pavillon des Folies marks a significant moment where fashion transcends its commercial boundaries to engage with deeper questions about existence, beauty, and human experience. The eyewear collection serves as a physical manifestation of Michele's philosophical exploration, offering wearable pieces that embody both practical function and artistic contemplation.
The Spring-Summer 2025 eyewear collection will be available in Valentino boutiques and selected retailers worldwide, representing what Michele calls "that superfine and precious spider's web that allows us to float over the void."
