Alessandro Michele’s first couture collection for Valentino reimagines the house’s legacy with rich historical references.

For Alessandro Michele, who on Wednesday joined the most rarefied ranks of his profession with his debut made-to-measure collection for Valentino, it was both dazzling and a little bit dizzying. Demi Moore Suits Up With Exaggerated Hips and Shoulders at Giorgio Armani Privé Haute Couture Show in Paris

When Alessandro Michele was growing up in Rome in the 1970s, one of his favorite pastimes was to rummage through his mother’s closet and to run his hands over the rustling taffeta, glinting sequins, and other adornments of time past.