Louvre Couture: the first fashion exhibition in the history of the Musée du Louvre

< >
Published by Audrey de Sortiraparis · Photos by Audrey de Sortiraparis · Published on January 25, 2025 at 11:32 a.m.
For the first time in its history, the Louvre is hosting an exhibition devoted entirely to fashion, from January 24 to July 21, 2025! The iconic Parisian museum will be showcasing its treasures of classical art alongside creations by the greatest couturiers and promising young talents.

Attention couture addicts: the Louvre is going couture! - From January 24 to July 21, 2025, the Louvre trades in its classic airs for a veritable revue of style with "LOUVRE COUTURE.Objets d'art, objets de mode". The world's most iconic museum opens its imaginary wardrobe and rolls out the red carpet for fashion, with an exhibition that blends haute couture and historical masterpieces. Made to measure!

Louvre Couture : l'exposition mode évènement, la première de l'histoire du musée du Louvre - IMG 9087 jpgLouvre Couture : l'exposition mode évènement, la première de l'histoire du musée du Louvre - IMG 9087 jpgLouvre Couture : l'exposition mode évènement, la première de l'histoire du musée du Louvre - IMG 9087 jpgLouvre Couture : l'exposition mode évènement, la première de l'histoire du musée du Louvre - IMG 9087 jpg

Art and fashion: a history of golden threads

Over 9,000 square meters, the Louvre invites visitors to a fashion show, or rather an original stroll, where the silhouettes of the greatest couturiers mingle with the treasures of its Objets d'art department. A hundred mythical creations, garments and accessories, on loan from 45 fashion houses - Cristóbal Balenciaga, Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel, Yohji Yamamoto and Iris van Herpen - interact with pieces of decorative art that continue to inspire designers.

Louvre Couture : l'exposition mode évènement, la première de l'histoire du musée du Louvre - IMG 9081 jpg 2Louvre Couture : l'exposition mode évènement, la première de l'histoire du musée du Louvre - IMG 9081 jpg 2Louvre Couture : l'exposition mode évènement, la première de l'histoire du musée du Louvre - IMG 9081 jpg 2Louvre Couture : l'exposition mode évènement, la première de l'histoire du musée du Louvre - IMG 9081 jpg 2

From an antique bas-relief to a grandiose tapestry, via an 18thᵉ century chest of drawers, art bends over backwards to reveal its finest materials and techniques, subtly reinterpreted in contemporary couture creations: a Boulle piece of furniture inspires a tailor's embroidery, a suit of armor becomes a dress ...

A journey through the centuries

Louvre Couture : l'exposition mode évènement, la première de l'histoire du musée du Louvre - IMG 8910 jpg 2Louvre Couture : l'exposition mode évènement, la première de l'histoire du musée du Louvre - IMG 8910 jpg 2Louvre Couture : l'exposition mode évènement, la première de l'histoire du musée du Louvre - IMG 8910 jpg 2Louvre Couture : l'exposition mode évènement, la première de l'histoire du musée du Louvre - IMG 8910 jpg 2

There's no classic itinerary here, just an invitation to stroll. Visitors will sail from one era to the next, at the whim of inspiration. Head for Byzantium and the Middle Ages, where the most precious works - gold, ivory and gems - are reflected in sublime silhouettes, proudly perched on mirrored catwalks, giving the museum's galleries a catwalk-like air. In the Renaissance halls, majestic tapestries, glazed ceramics and finely-worked suits of armor also play the part of accomplice to the designer pieces.

Then it's on to the Council of State rooms, where costumes inspired by the Grand Siècle display their splendor, while in the period rooms, where works from the XVIIIᵉ century are on display, gowns, ensembles and accessories immerse themselves in period settings, for a haute couture journey back in time.

Louvre Couture : l'exposition mode évènement, la première de l'histoire du musée du Louvre - IMG 9268 2Louvre Couture : l'exposition mode évènement, la première de l'histoire du musée du Louvre - IMG 9268 2Louvre Couture : l'exposition mode évènement, la première de l'histoire du musée du Louvre - IMG 9268 2Louvre Couture : l'exposition mode évènement, la première de l'histoire du musée du Louvre - IMG 9268 2

And to round off the show in style, head for the Napoleon III apartments, where the exuberance of the XIXᵉ century bursts forth in flamboyant silhouettes worthy of an imperial ball. A glamorous apotheosis that leaves you dreaming!

An infinite moodboard for designers

The Louvre doesn't keep any clothes - except for a few historic pieces like the coats of the Order of the Holy Spirit - but the galleries are overflowing with textile inspiration. Designers make no mistake: for them, the museum is a veritable open-air workshop, an XXL moodboard where every detail can become a source of inspiration. The exhibition explores this richness with passion.

Louvre Couture : l'exposition mode évènement, la première de l'histoire du musée du Louvre - IMG 9054Louvre Couture : l'exposition mode évènement, la première de l'histoire du musée du Louvre - IMG 9054Louvre Couture : l'exposition mode évènement, la première de l'histoire du musée du Louvre - IMG 9054Louvre Couture : l'exposition mode évènement, la première de l'histoire du musée du Louvre - IMG 9054

This link between couture and culture is not new. Figures such as Jacques Doucet or Marie-Louise Carven - who donated a collection of 18th-century objets d'art to the Louvre - helped make this dialogue a tradition. Even today, couturiers revisit ancient know-how, playing with eras and references.

Louvre Couture : l'exposition mode évènement, la première de l'histoire du musée du Louvre - IMG 9037 jpg 2Louvre Couture : l'exposition mode évènement, la première de l'histoire du musée du Louvre - IMG 9037 jpg 2Louvre Couture : l'exposition mode évènement, la première de l'histoire du musée du Louvre - IMG 9037 jpg 2Louvre Couture : l'exposition mode évènement, la première de l'histoire du musée du Louvre - IMG 9037 jpg 2

The perfect set design

The magic of this exhibition also lies in the scenography entrusted to Nathalie Crinière, a virtuoso of detail. Having already enhanced the Galerie Dior and the exhibitions for Elsa Schiaparelli and Iris van Herpen, here she sublimates the interactions between fashion and art with an immersive staging, where each piece finds its own light.

Louvre Couture : l'exposition mode évènement, la première de l'histoire du musée du Louvre - IMG 9244 jpgLouvre Couture : l'exposition mode évènement, la première de l'histoire du musée du Louvre - IMG 9244 jpgLouvre Couture : l'exposition mode évènement, la première de l'histoire du musée du Louvre - IMG 9244 jpgLouvre Couture : l'exposition mode évènement, la première de l'histoire du musée du Louvre - IMG 9244 jpg

Olivier Gabet, Director of the Objets d'Art Department at the Louvre, sums up the challenge perfectly: "Today, I think fashion is even more interesting when it's presented in relation to other fields. When you talk to a designer, of course he or she talks about fashion, but also about art, craftsmanship and photography." This multi-faceted dialogue reveals fashion to be rich, inspired and more alive than ever.

Art and fashion have never gone so well together!

Practical information

Dates and Opening Time
From January 24, 2025 to July 21, 2025

× Approximate opening times: to confirm opening times, please contact the establishment.

    Location

    musée du louvre
    75001 Paris 1

    Route planner

    Accessibility info

    Access
    Metro Palais Royal - Musée du Louvre

    Prices
    Tarif Jeunes (- 18 ans): Free
    Tarif Jeunes (18-25 ans résidents des pays d'Europe): Free
    Plein Tarif (musée + exposition): €22

    Average duration
    2 h

    Official website
    www.louvre.fr

    Booking
    Discover the prices of this ticketing service

    Occupancy forecast
    Comments
    Refine your search
    Refine your search
    Refine your search
    Refine your search