By World Licence 
Alessandro Michel has only worked on a few collections at Valentino so far, but it’s safe to say that Elle Fanning is already a huge fan of his work. The A Complete Unknown actress attended the 2025 National Board of Review gala yesterday in a dreamy outfit by Valentino’s new designer.
Fanning donned a ruffled babydoll dress from the Italian brand’s recent Pre-Fall 2025 collection. The piece featured a purple bodice trimmed with a bow that extended into a ruffled nude skirt. Fanning paired her spaghetti-strap dress with a faux fur coat that was worn loosely over her shoulders. A ruby ring and matching cuff bracelet from Cartier completed the actress’ look.
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While it may be too early to tell since Alessandro Michele’s tenure at Valentino began, it seems likely that Fanning has established herself as one of the Italian’s early muses. At the 2024 Governors Awards in November, the actress was one of the first to wear Michele’s Valentino on the red carpet, wearing a sheer mint green gown and matching cape from the designer’s first show, held at Paris Fashion Week last September.
Those who follow Fanning’s red carpet style closely know that the actress typically favors vintage or custom looks that reference bygone eras when she hits the red carpet. At Sunday’s Golden Globes alone, she wore an Olivier Rousteing for Balmain creation inspired by a 1953 couture collection before slipping into a Galliano-era Dior gown at an after-party.
Perhaps that’s why Fanning is so drawn to Michele’s work, which often blends elements from multiple decades into one at Valentino. And with a busy awards season ahead, don’t be surprised if Fanning and her stylist Samantha McMillen call Michele a few more times between now and the Oscars in March.
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