Marie Claire UK Marie Claire UK
  • Fashion Fashion
      • Fashion
        • View all Fashion
        • Fashion Trends
        • Shopping
        • Watches and Jewellery
        • Fashion News
  • Beauty Beauty
      • Beauty
        • View all Beauty
        • Fragrance
        • Hair
        • Make Up
        • Skincare
        • Nails
        • Marie Claire Beauty Awards
  • Health Health
      • Health
        • View all Health
        • Fitness
        • Nutrition
        • Female Health
        • Wellbeing
  • Life Life
      • Life
        • View all Life
        • Opinions
        • Travel
        • Sustainability
        • Weddings
        • Money & Work
        • Competitions
  • Culture Culture
      • Culture
        • View all Culture
        • TV and Film
        • Celebrity News
        • Books
        • Royal News
  • Vouchers Vouchers
      • Clothing
        • View all Vouchers
        • Mint Velvet
        • Karen Millen
        • H&M
        • nobody's child
        • ASOS
        • ARKET
        • MANGO
      • Designer Clothing
        • View all Vouchers
        • Reiss
        • THE OUTNET
        • SSENSE
        • Mytheresa
        • Liberty London
        • Selfridges
        • Farfetch
      • Accessories
        • View all Vouchers
        • AllSaints
        • Aspinal of London
        • Charles & Keith
        • River Island
        • FitFlop
        • Kate Spade
        • Vagabond
      • Jewellery
        • View all Vouchers
        • Pandora
        • Abbott Lyon
        • Goldsmiths
        • Beaverbrooks
        • Astrid & Miyu
        • Swarovski
        • Angara Jewellery
      • Beauty
        • View all Vouchers
        • Sephora
        • Cult Beauty
        • Space NK
        • Dyson
        • Clarins
        • Look Fantastic
        • Clinique
      • Activewear
        • View all Vouchers
        • Lululemon
        • Gymshark
        • Sweaty Betty
        • Nike
        • adidas
        • New Balance
        • Helly Hansen
  • NEWSLETTER Signup to our newsletter
  • logoCreated with Sketch.
    Marie Claire Newsletter

    Celebrity news, beauty, fashion advice, and fascinating features, delivered straight to your inbox!


    By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

    You are now subscribed

    Your newsletter sign-up was successful


    An account already exists for this email address, please log in.
    Trending
    • Women in Sport 2026
    • Marie Claire Masters
    • Spring Summer 2026
    • Nail Trends 2026
    • Best Investment Bags
    • Best Perfumes
    • Digital Issues
    • Women Who Win
    1. Fashion

    Valentino took us to the club bathroom for Autumn/Winter 2025

    Alessandro Michele forced us to question "the masks that mass society imposes on us"

    Rebecca Jane Hill's avatar
    By Rebecca Jane Hill
    Published 9 March 2025 In Features

    When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

    Valentino AW25
    (Image credit: Getty Images)
    • Facebook
    • X
    • Pinterest
    Share this article
    Join the conversation
    Follow us
    Add us as a preferred source on Google
    Subscribe to our newsletter

    On Sunday, Alessandro Michele presented his second ready-to-wear collection for the house of Valentino at Paris Fashion Week. Entitled 'Le Méta Théâtre Des Intimités' guests were seated in front of a long line of toilet cubicles, in the house's signature red colour, complete with a sink and mirror station.

    Chappell Roan, Alexa Chung, Jared Leto, Nara Smith, Parker Posey and Barry Keoghan were all in attendance.

    Lana Del Rey's track 'Gods and Monsters' indicated the start of the show, as bare feet were illuminated underneath the cubicle doors. Bright lights went up, and the music switched to a thumping rave track, as models emerged from behind the doors.

    Valentino AW25

    (Image credit: Getty Images)

    The first look was a pink lace bodysuit, unbuttoned at the crotch, worn with a silk bralet over the top. This was the definition of high meets low fashion, where glamorous outfits become askew after a few drinks — the club toilets.

    Michele's design codes were out in full force — fur-trimmed coats, layers of glittering necklaces and lace tights ran throughout the collection. Almost all models wore a wide flesh-coloured headband or black balaclava hood with oversized sunglasses, creating a post-surgery style aesthetic.

    You may like
    • Dior Haute Couture AW26 runway From Chanel to Balenciaga—I Can't Stop Thinking About These Incredible Haute Couture Fashion Week Looks
    • 30 AW26 BUYS 30 of the Most Sought-After New Season Buys to Kick-Start Your Autumn/Winter 2026 Wardrobe
    • Celine Style Briefing: Michael Rider’s Celine Is Already Defining a New Fashion Era— Here's How He Did It

    In the show notes, he wrote: "We might as well understand that, in the end, also the deepest intimacy of all is a theatre. Or rather a meta theatre in the theatre of existence: a backstage space-time that exhibits the features of a never-ending performance. A mysterious and multifaceted representation in which we choose to address the fundamental question: Who are we?"

    Valentino AW25

    (Image credit: Getty Images)

    Throughout the show, the cast of models walked in and out of the toilet doors and paused at the sinks to examine their reflection in the mirror. Fur and feather collars featured alongside floor-length sequin gowns (one of which had a cat's face across the chest), ruffled blouses and silk slip skirts.

    Marie Claire Newsletter

    Celebrity news, beauty, fashion advice, and fascinating features, delivered straight to your inbox!

    By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

    Valentino AW25

    (Image credit: Getty Images)

    There was a strong 1980s influence from the model's heavy blush and glossy red lipstick to the asymmetric fabric, padded shoulder dresses. There were also several diamond-printed, Harlequin style dresses, echoing the opening look from the Spring 2025 couture show last month.

    Valentino AW25

    (Image credit: Getty Images)

    Wide peplum skirts and oversized bows sat on top of nude, skin-tight gowns. Sheer beaded dresses featured long trains which dragged behind their wearers — all worn with black balaclava hoods. Fluffy fur coats were also prominent, on both men and women, as has been seen throughout the entire Autumn/Winter 2025 season.

    Valentino AW25

    (Image credit: Getty Images)

    For the show's finale, all models lined up outside the toilet cubicles. The bare feet were once again illuminated beneath the doors behind them. The lights went down, and the models entered back from where they came, disappearing into the night (in reality it was the middle of the day, but that doesn't matter).

    Valentino AW25

    (Image credit: Getty Images)

    Print clashing, vintage references and a bold attitude — Michele is doing what he does best at Valentino.

    Rebecca Jane Hill
    Rebecca Jane Hill
    Freelance Fashion Editor And Stylist

    Rebecca Jane Hill is a freelance fashion editor and stylist. She is the former fashion editor at Drapers, and has contributed to publications such as Elle, Refinery29, Stylist, Glamour, The Face, Dazed, Bricks, and Riposte. She has also worked with brands such as Dr Martens, Gucci and Calvin Klein across strategy, consultancy and creative direction. 

    Read more
    Dior Haute Couture AW26 runway
    Fashion From Chanel to Balenciaga—I Can't Stop Thinking About These Incredible Haute Couture Fashion Week Looks
    30 AW26 BUYS
    Fashion 30 of the Most Sought-After New Season Buys to Kick-Start Your Autumn/Winter 2026 Wardrobe
     
     
    Celine
    Fashion Style Briefing: Michael Rider’s Celine Is Already Defining a New Fashion Era— Here's How He Did It
    Copenhagen Fashion Week street style
    Shopping Kitten-Heel Sandals, Lace Dresses and the Season's New Favourite Shade of Blue— These are the Copenhagen Fashion Week Street Style Trends to Note
     
     
    Latest in Fashion
    Jodie Comer
    Shopping Jodie Comer Just Announced the Start of Knee-High Boots Season
    Coach Tabby bag
    Fashion Why Coach’s Forever Bags Are the Ultimate Wardrobe Investment
     
     
    Kaia Gerber
    Shopping Kaia Gerber Just Wore the ’90s Dress Style That’s as Flattering as It Is Low-Effort
    Oxfam
    Fashion “The Water Used to Produce Britain’s Unworn Clothes Is Enough to Supply 1 Million People for a Lifetime”: Oxfam’s Latest State of Style Report Finds
     
     
    Latest in Features
    Autumn Nail Trends 2026
    Nails From Fawn Print to Milky Matcha—These Are Autumn 2026’s Defining Nail Trends
    Fenty Beauty Pro Filtr Fluid Flex Foundation Review
    Make Up Fenty Beauty Just Replaced Its Most Iconic Foundation—3 Editors Put Its “Flexible” Full Coverage to the Test
     
     
    Charlotte Mensah Afro Hair
    Hair Charlotte Mensah Has Spent 40 Years Changing the Conversation Around Afro Hair—Now, Her Legacy Is Going on Display
    Dangers of sharing photos of children online
    Life I Used to Share Photos of My Daughter Online. Horrifying New AI Data Has Made Me Stop
     
     
    logoCreated with Sketch.
    • Site Archive
    • Contact Future's experts
    • Contact us
    • Terms and conditions
    • Advertise with us
    • Privacy policy
    • Cookies policy
    • About us
    Add as a preferred source on Google Add as a preferred source on Google

    Marie Claire UK is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

    © Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Bath BA1 1UA. All rights reserved. England and Wales company registration number 2008885.