The French-American Cultural Foundation recently had the extraordinary opportunity to visit Louvre Couture, a groundbreaking exhibition at the Musée du Louvre.
This exhibition, curated by Olivier Gabet, director of the Department of Decorative Arts at the Louvre, runs from January 24 to July 21, 2025. It explores the deep and enduring relationship between fashion and art history.
While the Louvre is not traditionally a fashion museum, Gabet emphasizes the importance of presenting contemporary creations alongside the museum’s renowned collections. Louvre Couture is a first-of-its-kind event at the Louvre, showcasing the connections between historic decorative arts and high fashion artistry. Instead of borrowing from the Museum of Decorative Arts, the exhibition features pieces on loan directly from top couture houses, the Alaïa Foundation, and the Yves Saint Laurent Museum.
Since the days of Paul Cézanne, the Louvre has been known as the book from which we learn to read. In this case, designers have been its most devoted students. Louvre Couture reveals how the museum’s extensive collections have long served as an unparalleled source of inspiration for the fashion world.
The exhibition does not merely focus on seasonal trends or radical innovations but highlights the enduring echoes and artistic dialogues between couture and the decorative arts.
Spanning nearly 9,000 square meters, Louvre Couture features 65 meticulously curated designs alongside a selection of accessories, each placed in direct conversation with the masterpieces of the Department of Decorative Arts.
From Byzantium to the Second Empire, the exhibition illuminates the historical influences that have shaped haute couture, demonstrating how ancestral craftsmanship, knowledge of ornamentation, and visual culture continue to define contemporary fashion.
Far from being displayed in isolation, the garments and accessories are strategically positioned to highlight the intricate connections between fashion and the museum’s collection.
Many of the department’s greatest treasures were acquired thanks to the generosity of figures in the fashion world, from Jacques Doucet to Madame Carven. Louvre Couture celebrates these historical ties while offering a fresh perspective on decorative arts through the lens of modern design.
For lovers of fashion, history, and art alike, this exhibition is an unmissable experience. We encourage you to visit the Louvre before Louvre Couture closes on July 21, 2025, and immerse yourself in the remarkable interplay of heritage and innovation that defines this spectacular showcase.
Don’t miss the chance to witness couture’s timeless conversation with the past – attend while you can!