For Alessandro Michele, all roads, in the end, do in fact lead back to Rome. Born and raised in the Italian capital, Michele spent more than two decades at the Florentine house of Gucci, including nearly eight years as creative director, before returning home in 2024 to take the reins at Valentino, the storied Roman label founded by Valentino Garavani. Along the way, he has made a signature of romantic maximalism, mixing eras, references, prints, and embellishments while blurring the traditional lines between men’s wear and women’s wear. “The way you dress is really the way you feel, the way you live, what you read, your choices,” he has said. Now, on the heels of Milan Fashion Week, Michele reveals some of those preferences as he sits in DRESS CODE’s Haute Seat.
First impression: Good.
Scent: Mine.
Watch: Santos de Cartier.
Sunglasses: Even in the winter. Always.
Pajamas: My childhood.