Paris: The Louvre Museum’s inaugural fashion exhibition, ‘Louvre Couture’, features 99 couture pieces from iconic designers including Dior and Balenciaga, creatively displayed throughout its decorative arts galleries, encouraging an engaging journey that intertwines art and fashion until 21 July 2025.
The Louvre Museum in Paris is currently hosting its inaugural fashion exhibition, titled “Louvre Couture: Objets d’art, objets de mode”, which runs until 21 July 2025. This landmark event showcases a diverse array of 99 couture pieces from renowned fashion houses including Dior, Balenciaga, and Vivienne Westwood. Exhibition-goers are treated to a unique experience as these pieces are strategically dispersed throughout the expansive decorative arts galleries of the museum.
Franklin Habit, writing for Modern Daily Knitting, expressed his excitement about the exhibition, describing it as a thrilling and exhausting experience that diverges from traditional exhibition layouts. Instead of being confined to a few designated spaces, the couture pieces challenge visitors to embark on a scavenger hunt of sorts, traversing about a quarter-mile of gallery space to locate each item. “It’s a scavenger hunt, only instead of looking for a pencil… you’re looking for Dior, Balenciaga, and Vivienne Westwood,” Habit remarked.
The placement of each piece has been thoughtfully executed, creating visual dialogue between the fashion items and the historic artefacts surrounding them. This curation aims to encourage visitors to engage with both the haute couture and the smaller decorative arts with renewed perspective. Habit noted the allure of haute couture, stating, “Most of the pieces here are haute couture… clothing carefully made by hands trained to the highest possible level of skill.”
Among the exhibits, various designers showcase their expertise, with garments crafted by a team of skilled artisans, known as petites mains. A single evening jacket, for instance, may involve the work of multiple individuals specialising in different aspects of garment construction. Habit also pointed out that while some designs may appear extravagant or impractical for everyday wear, their purpose is to push creative boundaries and highlight the craftsmanship involved in haute couture.
The exhibition has already drawn considerable attention, transforming the typically tranquil decorative arts galleries into bustling spaces filled with art and fashion enthusiasts. “Well, not anymore, kiddo. The clothes have brought the crowds,” Habit observed, highlighting the impact of this remarkable collection.
As visitors continue to flock to the Louvre for this unprecedented exploration of fashion and art, the “Louvre Couture” exhibition stands as a testament to the enduring relationship between these two worlds. The extensive gathering of both historical artefacts and contemporary haute couture invites admirers to appreciate the craftsmanship embedded in each piece, reinforcing the intersection of artistry and fashion as a vibrant cultural dialogue.
Source: Noah Wire Services
