Louvre Couture Expo at the Louvre Museum | Ticket Reservation

at the Louvre Museum from January 24 to July 21, 2025

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THE EXHIBITION:

From January 24 to July 21, 2025, the Louvre Museum is hosting for the first time an exhibition entirely devoted to fashion with “LOUVRE COUTURE. Art objects, fashion objects.” This exceptional exhibition, which extends over 9,000 m², brings together around a hundred iconic silhouettes and accessories from 45 legendary fashion houses, including Alexander McQueen, Chanel, Dior, Givenchy, Louis Vuitton and many others. An unmissable event for art and fashion lovers, which promises to be one of the highlights of the Parisian cultural season. Don't miss this unique experience and book your ticket to the Louvre now.

“LOUVRE COUTURE. Objects of art, fashion objects” | Teaser ©2025 Louvre Museum

THE ART OF INSPIRATION: FROM CRISTÓBAL BALENCIAGA TO IRIS VAN HERPEN

For several decades, fashion has continued to draw on the immense artistic repertoire offered by the Louvre, a true “ book in which we learn to read », as Paul Cézanne so well expressed it. “Louvre Couture” highlights this surprising dialogue between the treasures of the museum’s Objects of Art department and the creations of big names in haute couture or luxury ready-to-wear. Around a hundred pieces were loaned by forty-five international houses and designers, from Cristóbal Balenciaga to Iris van Herpen.

Significant pieces from the history of contemporary fashion, spanning from the 1960s to the present day, resonate with historical masterpieces. We discover how the embroidery of a contemporary tailor can evoke the magnificence of a Boulle piece of furniture, or how the draping of a silk dress can be inspired by the sculpted folds of a medieval statue. This approach, both scholarly and poetic, illustrates the way in which art and fashion have enriched each other for centuries.

Clothing, paradoxically little preserved at the Louvre – the museum holds very few textile pieces strictly speaking, with the exception of exceptional coats of the Order of the Holy Spirit – nevertheless finds its source of inspiration everywhere. In the rooms devoted to decorative arts, from Byzantium to the Second Empire, tapestries, goldwork, porcelain and furniture elements bear witness to the major influence of artisanal and ornamental know-how on fashion. Historical signatures, such as Jacques Doucet or Madame Carven, have even contributed to enriching the museum's collections, establishing deep links between clothing creation and heritage conservation.

The exhibition curator, Olivier Gabet, general curator of heritage and director of the Objects of Art department of the Louvre Museum, assisted by Marie Brimicombe, thus offers a unique rereading of the collections. Their selection of ensembles from haute couture or luxury ready-to-wear demonstrates the creators' ability to constantly reinvent patterns, cuts and techniques, while honoring the artistic tradition that the Louvre represents.

A STROLL BETWEEN TAPESTRY, PRECIOUS OBJECTS AND HAUTE COUTURE MODELS

Rather than a classic tour, “Louvre Couture” invites visitors to wander freely through the Objects of Art department. Covering almost 9,000 m², the staging designed by Nathalie Crinière – renowned for her exhibitions at the Museum of Decorative Arts and her collaboration at the Dior gallery – brings fashion pieces into dialogue with rare artifacts. The approach is chronological, but nothing prevents you from exploring the exhibition in the order that inspires you.

From the first rooms, the Byzantine and medieval world appears in all its splendor: gold, ivory and precious stones evoke the preciousness characteristic of the period, in perfect harmony with the sumptuous embroidery of contemporary silhouettes. Floral motifs, coats of arms and weaving techniques from these ancient centuries resonate with haute couture pieces, proving that the ornamental vocabulary of fashion is constantly renewing itself by drawing on the past.

Further on, the Renaissance is revealed through rooms where richly enameled ceramics, armor with chiseled ornaments and monumental tapestries intermingle. Here, the confrontation with creations by Karl Lagerfeld or Dolce & Gabbana illustrates the transition between secular traditions and radical modernity. The clothes on display readily borrow from the repertoire of the past: brocades, precious stones, cuts inspired by armor or even motifs borrowed from painted canvases of the time.

The route then crosses the period of the Grand Siècle, where the influence of Louis XIV can be seen in the exuberance and sophistication of the decorations. Here, the silhouettes on display are adorned with golden embroidery, aristocratic lace and deep colors, evoking the splendor of the court. This sumptuous atmosphere prepares you for immersion in the period rooms dedicated to the 18th century, where delicate furniture, refined woodwork and precious porcelain offer an ideal setting for dresses, ensembles and accessories carefully chosen for their resonance with the aesthetic of the 'era.

Finally, the last part highlights the triumphant 19th century, crowned by the splendor of the Second Empire. The Napoleon III apartments, famous for their theatrical decorations, serve as the setting for a “final bouquet” where the extravagance of forms meets the profusion of ornaments. Here, bold contemporary silhouettes are revealed in dazzling tones, embodying the continuity of a tradition of luxury and excess, reinvented by current fashion designers. Over these centuries, “Louvre Couture” offers a unique panorama of the intimate relationship between fashion and art history.

SCENOGRAPHY AND ARTISTIC AMBITIONS

Much more than a simple fashion exhibition, “Louvre Couture” is intended to be an author's event. It is a question of questioning the history of art and fashion by highlighting their multiple correspondences, whether it is the use of certain motifs, the use of ancestral know-how or a same quest for beauty. The organizers emphasize the notion of a “mood board”, this inspiration panel that every fashion designer uses before a new collection. At the Louvre, thismood boardis deployed on the scale of an entire department, revealing how furniture, tapestries, pieces of goldwork and ancient sculptures have nourished the creativity of couturiers.

Indeed, for several decades, great stylists have browsed the Louvre's collections, leafed through its catalogs or consulted its visual archives in search of ideas. From the shape of an antique vase to the marquetry of a Renaissance cabinet, nothing escapes their keen eye. And if fashion often seems to dictate a rapid tempo – alternating seasonal shows and technical innovations – it is nevertheless anchored in the slow and deep sedimentation of styles. The works presented in “Louvre Couture” bear witness to this creative fusion between past and present, in a dialogue where every detail counts.

The curatorship of Olivier Gabet and his team focused particularly on formal and thematic connections. Yohji Yamamoto's silhouettes can thus rub shoulders with centuries-old pieces to reveal unexpected analogies of cuts or textures. As for Iris van Herpen, her sculptural dresses reflect an admiration for the delicate lines of nature, as much as for the ornamental subtleties of great artistic eras. At once erudite, moving and accessible, “Louvre Couture” promises a striking encounter for all visitors in search of beauty and discovery.

WHY GO SEE THE EXHIBITION “LOUVRE COUTURE “AT THE LOUVRE MUSEUM?

• A unique event in an emblematic place

Never before has the Louvre Museum dedicated an exhibition of such magnitude exclusively to fashion. By combining contemporary pieces with its collections of art objects, the museum opens itself to a new public and offers a fascinating reinterpretation of its heritage.

• A journey through eras and styles

From Byzantium to the Second Empire, via the Renaissance and the Grand Siècle, “Louvre Couture” traces several centuries of artistic influences. Visitors explore fashion as a universal language, where every detail – embroidery, cut, pattern – dialogues with the history of decorative styles, crafts and ornament.

• An immersive and poetic scenography

Designed by Nathalie Crinière, the staging offers a fluid journey, inviting you to stroll and stroll through the galleries of the Louvre. This immersion allows you to rediscover, from an innovative angle, the permanent masterpieces of the Louvre, while admiring the creations of iconic couturiers from the second half of the 20th century to the present day.

• A renewed look at the history of fashion and art

Far from being a simple juxtaposition of dresses and windows, “Louvre Couture” offers a broader reflection on the way in which creators appropriate the past, explore archives, reinvent know-how or aesthetic codes. This exhibition demonstrates that art and fashion move forward together, feeding off each other, and reaffirms the relevance of the museum as a living cultural resource.

• An opportunity for all audiences

Whether you are passionate about art, a lover of haute couture or simply curious looking for an unmissable cultural activity, “Louvre Couture” has something to appeal to you. Its educational content, its thematic approach and the richness of its pieces make it a family and friendly event, while remaining a must for connoisseurs.

From January 24, 2025, the most visited museum in the world will be transformed into a true temple of textile and stylistic creation, revealing unsuspected connections between historical heritage and contemporary fashion. Prepare your visit and take your ticket for the Louvre Museum to discover “Louvre Couture”: this exhibition-event will take you on a journey through the centuries, meeting the biggest names in fashion and the most beautiful artistic achievements of the 'humanity. An unmissable event for all those who want to live a unique experience where art, history and fashion become one.

GET THERE:

Address : Louvre Pyramid, 75001 Paris

SCHEDULES :

• Monday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Wednesday and Friday: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
• closed Tuesday

PRICES: