VALENTINO'S RESORT 2026 WITH DAKOTA JOHNSON
- BY KRISTOPHER FRASER
- 12 NOVEMBER 2025
- 4 Min
Dakota Johnson in Valentino’s Resort 2026 campaign. Photo: Courtesy of Valentino
Dakota Johnson has long been one of Valentino creative director Alessandro Michele’s favorite muses. The admiration is mutual, as Johnson frequently wore Michele’s Gucci creations to the Oscars and Met Galas during his tenure as Gucci’s creative director. When Michele moved to Valentino in 2024, fans of both wondered how long it would be before Johnson appeared in his new era at the house.
With the unveiling of Valentino’s Resort 2026 campaign, Johnson has officially reunited with Michele as one of the collection’s stars. The new campaign, directed by Renell Medrano and photographed by Marili Andre, also features Tate McRae, Dev Hynes, and Marisa Berenson.
Of all the campaign stars, Johnson is the most familiar with Michele’s bohemian and camp inspirations. (Gucci was one of the sponsors of the 2019 Met Gala, themed Camp: Notes on Fashion, during Michele’s time as creative director.) At Valentino, he has not strayed far from his signature aesthetic: a love of patterns, chiffon, lace, and sparkle.
Johnson’s red chiffon mini dress instantly became one of Valentino’s most talked-about looks of the season. Photo: Courtesy of Valentino
One of Johnson’s standout looks from the campaign features her in a red chiffon mini dress worth $9,900, a piece that immediately set the internet ablaze. In the image, she poses while on the phone, her ice-blue ankle-strap heels kicked off to the side and her Valentino Panthea bag strategically placed next to her. The dress features an off-the-shoulder design with small cutouts around the waist, embodying Michele’s signature mix of sensuality and whimsy.
Another look from the campaign sees Johnson in a bejeweled, bohemian chiffon dress layered with a beige feather-trimmed shawl. The ensemble is accessorized with the Valentino Panthea bag in beige, blending effortless glamour with romantic ease.
In 2025, when Michele was announced as Valentino’s new creative director, he immediately got to work and expected no less from his muses. His debut Resort 2025 collection featured 171 looks, including womenswear, menswear, shoes, and accessories. He even released the collection months ahead of schedule, moving it up from the originally planned September 2024 debut of the Spring 2025 line.
The Valentino Panthea bag, seen in both of Johnson’s Resort 2026 looks, is one of Michele’s creations from the brand’s Fall 2025 collection. It has quickly risen to “It Bag” status, seen on Anne Hathaway, Jenna Ortega, and Bella Hadid. Despite only becoming available in September, it has already achieved cult status.
Johnson and Michele have created magic once again, a perfect fusion of cinematic allure and couture craftsmanship. Now it is time to plan a Valentino shopping trip—and perhaps a vacation to wear the new resort styles.