Dakota Johnson and Tate McRae in Valentino Cruise 2026 Campaign

Valentino unveils its Cruise 2026 campaign titled Nocturne, featuring Dakota Johnson and Tate McRae. Directed by Alessandro Michele, the concept explores the moment when the day fades into night—a quiet transition between energy and stillness.

The Artistic Vision

Michele captures the delicate instant when conversations slow and personal reflection begins. Each participant—Dakota Johnson, Tate McRae, Marisa Berenson, Dev Hynes, Anne Imhof, and Devon Teuscher—appears alone in separate hotel rooms, expressing individuality in an intimate, contemplative space.

“Proximity without contact,” describes Michele’s vision—lives that run parallel yet remain solitary.

The Collection

The Cruise 2026 line includes sheer sequined gowns, tailored tweed blazers, printed jackets, mini silhouettes, and satin designs trimmed with feathers. Accessories such as the Panthea Shoulder Bag and the D’Orsay Bondie Pump accompany the garments, emphasizing understated elegance and the slower rhythm of evening.

Atmosphere and Presentation

The campaign replaces runway spectacle with softer imagery, presenting fashion in a quieter, more introspective mood that reflects the essence of twilight.

Author’s Summary: A poetic campaign where Alessandro Michele translates the stillness before nightfall into fashion, uniting solitude, elegance, and subtle emotional rhythm.

dscene magazine — 2025-11-07