Gwyneth Paltrow and a Star-Studded Front Row Shine at Valentino’s Rome Show

Rome played host to a dazzling display of fashion as Alessandro Michele’s Valentino presented its Fall/Winter 2026 ready-to-wear collection on March 12th, drawing a constellation of celebrities to the Palazzo Barberini . The show, held outside of the traditional Paris Fashion Week schedule, served as a tribute to the fashion house’s founder, Valentino Garavani, who passed away in January .

A Celebration of Italian Roots and Design

Alessandro Michele opted to showcase the collection in Rome’s 17th-century Palazzo Barberini, an art museum boasting Baroque architecture and Rococo-style apartments, emphasizing Valentino’s Italian heritage . The autumn/winter 26 collection itself was described as “hedonistic grandeur” and inspired by the 1980s, featuring draped and embellished designs, couture volumes, and glittering jewelry .

Gwyneth Paltrow’s Green Moment

Among the attendees, Gwyneth Paltrow stood out in a lime green babydoll dress paired with white floral-printed tights, an ensemble first seen in the Valentino Pre-Fall 2026 lookbook . The outfit was noted as a nod to her iconic Donna Karan two-piece set from the 1998 film, Great Expectations . Paltrow, a longtime friend of Valentino Garavani, has a history with the brand, even wearing a Pierpaolo Piccioli design to her 2018 wedding .

Star-Studded Guest List

Paltrow was joined by a host of other prominent figures, including musicians Tyla and Lily Allen, actor Philippine Leroy-Beaulieu, and actor Alessandro Borghi . Lily Allen even performed later in the evening . The front row also included Georgina Rodriguez and Bianca Balti .

A Finale Honoring Valentino Garavani

The show concluded with a floor-sweeping red dress featuring a V-shaped cutout, a tribute to the late founder of the fashion house . The event marked a significant moment for Valentino, blending past and present in a celebration of Italian fashion and artistry.