Valentino Celebrates Moments of Fleeting Romance in Its Latest Campaign
Marking Qixi, the Chinese festival of love.
Maison Valentino is marking Qixi Festival with a new campaign that celebrates the quiet complexities of love. Conceived by creative director Alessandro Michele and photographed by acclaimed visual artist Wing Shya, the campaign pays tribute to China’s traditional festival of romance, often referred to as Chinese Valentine’s Day.
Starring friend of the House Lars Huang alongside models Yidan Huang and Zen Yue, the campaign showcases Valentino’s Pre-Fall 2026 collection through a series of intimate, film-like vignettes. Set inside a bookstore, the imagery follows the trio as they navigate shelves and hidden corners, capturing fleeting encounters and moments of anticipation rather than overt declarations of romance.
Known for his longtime collaboration with filmmaker Wong Kar-wai, Shya brings his signature dreamlike aesthetic to the project. Soft focus, diffused lighting blur the line between reality and imagination, creating a narrative that invites viewers to interpret the connections between each character for themselves.
The campaign also spotlights key accessories from the Pre-Fall 2026 collection, including the Valentino Garavani Panthea and DeVain handbags, alongside shoes from the Valentino Garavani Rockstud family.
Rooted in the ancient legend that inspired Qixi, Valentino’s latest campaign embraces longing, possibility and the beauty of what remains unsaid, offering a poetic interpretation of modern romance through Alessandro Michele’s distinctive creative vision.
Check out the imagery above and head to the brand’s website for more.
In other news, take a look at Vivienne Westwood’s opulent new campaign.
