There is a particular hour when the world softens—when the noise of the day exhales and the quiet allure of the night sets in. It is this fragile, poetic threshold that Valentino Garavani inhabits in “Nocturne”, the Cruise 2026 advertising campaign envisioned by Creative Director Alessandro Michele. Set within the hushed anonymity of a hotel, Nocturne unfolds like a shared dream: private yet collective, solitary yet strangely intimate.
To understand the meaning of this campaign, one must look back to the Maison’s origins. Founded in Rome in 1960 by Valentino Garavani, the House of Valentino quickly became a symbol of unparalleled Italian couture. From the invention of the iconic “Valentino Red” to dressing global royalty and Hollywood icons, the brand has always stood for a sophisticated, almost architectural femininity. Today, Michele honours this legacy of opulence while injecting his signature poetic eclecticism—transforming the brand into a vessel for deep, emotional storytelling.
For Nocturne, Michele assembles a cast of cultural luminaries who embody parallel solitudes. At the centre is Dakota Johnson, an actress and producer celebrated for her quiet magnetism and nuanced performances, from “The Lost Daughter” to “Suspiria.” Johnson, who has just recently been named as the Maison’s global brand ambassador, embodies the campaign’s “quiet hush,” captured in a moment of private reflection.
The campaign’s artistic depth is further amplified by Anne Imhof, the German performance artist and Golden Lion winner known for her visceral work “FAUST” and Devon Teuscher, a Principal Dancer of American Ballet Theatre, whose refined physicality and control evoke unparalleled discipline and grace.
Music shapes the campaign’s emotional rhythm through Dev Hynes (Blood Orange). A British musical polymath and genre-defying artist, Hynes embodies nocturnal sensitivity—his work deeply rooted in memory, intimacy, and introspection.
Rounding out the cast with pop stardom is Tate McRae, the Canadian singer-songwriter behind the multi-platinum hit “you broke me first” and chart-topping albums “THINK LATER” and “So Close To What.”
Visually, Nocturne is pared back yet rich in detail. Styled by Jonathan Kaye, the standout piece is undoubtedly the red chiffon mini-dress worn by Dakota Johnson—a nod to the house’s heritage hue, updated with off-the-shoulder draping, daring cutouts, and knotted sashes that balance structure with fluidity. Paired with sheer white floral tights and turquoise Drip Rose sandals, it captures a 1970s cinematic appeal that is not only nostalgic but also sharply modern.
Favouring softness over spectacle, the collection leans into “nightgown-esque” silhouettes and softly structured tailoring. Accessories also take centre stage, particularly the Panthea bag, a chevron-patterned nappa leather tote that serves as the season’s ultimate “It bag,” resting beside the talents like a travel companion.
The film, directed by Renell Medrano, deepens this atmosphere. Set to the haunting melody of Chopin’s “Nocturne in E Flat”, it depicts a “human hive” where lives barely touch yet share the same ritual of rest. Moving from room to room, it captures individuals surrendering to stillness, united by music, time, and breath. The hotel becomes a metaphor for contemporary life: proximity without contact, connection without intrusion.
Through the lens of photographer Marili Andre, we see these isolated gestures transfigure into a collective intimacy—a visual reminder that even in our most private moments, we are connected by the shared vulnerability of sleep.
In Nocturne, Valentino does not shout. It whispers. And in that whisper, it reminds us that night is not an ending—but a shared beginning.
