Pierpaolo Piccioli's daily commute has changed dramatically. For 30 years, he took the 8:11 train – sometimes the 9:07 – from Nettuno to Rome. The trip lasted just over an hour each morning, taking him to the Palazzo Mignanelli, Valentino's headquarters. Nettuno is a small seaside town where he grew up. He moved back there over 25 years ago with his wife, Simona, to raise their three children.

Since July 10, his commute has been to Avenue George-V, to Balenciaga's historic Paris headquarters, after relocating to the French capital. Appointed creative director of the ready-to-wear and haute couture collections for the Kering-owned brand on May 19, he succeeded Demna, who officially stepped down on July 9 after the haute couture show, to join Gucci in Milan.

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