Frivolousness is not useless” says the newly installed Valentino creative director in his first runway show that brimmed with possibility.

It’s been a while!” said Alessandro Michele with a chuckle on Sunday afternoon in Paris. The designer was holding a press conference following his Valentino debut, which marked the ex-Gucci maestro’s eagerly anticipated return to fashion and his first runway show in two years.

The atmosphere was electric with anticipation leading up to Alessandro Michele’s debut at Valentino on Sunday afternoon in Paris—undeniably the most coveted invite of the season. Instead of opting for the expected,