A visit to Louvre Couture was the perfect excuse for yet another long weekend in Paris. We expected a handful of fashion pieces displayed against beautiful paintings in the Louvre. What we discovered instead was an immersive and masterfully curated exploration of the connection between the decorative arts and the world of fashion — past and present.
We visited in early April 2025, just a few weeks after the show opened. After two visits and more than five hours immersed in this grandest of fashion shows, here is my review and reflections on this once-in-a-lifetime exhibition.
A Treasure Hunt Through Centuries of Style
Spread across nearly 100 exhibits, this show takes you on a journey through the centuries, as interpreted by some of the world’s most celebrated designers. Some pieces take centre stage — commanding entire rooms or drawing the eye the moment you enter. Others are so seamlessly integrated into their surroundings that you could walk past without noticing. A cuff tucked among medieval relics, a bodice that echoes the upholstery of a salon — the line between fashion and artefact often blurs. It becomes something of a treasure hunt — an invitation to wander, linger, and look again.
On our first visit, we had just 90 minutes before the museum closed. We thought we’d seen a good chunk of the show, until we flicked through the official catalogue afterwards and realised we’d barely scratched the surface. The next day, we went back and did it properly. In total, we spent more than five hours taking in the fashion — and could easily have spent five more. The breadth of what’s on display is remarkable.
Fashion’s Finest: The Designers Behind Louvre Couture
From Cristóbal Balenciaga to Giambattista Valli, the range of designers and maisons represented is breathtaking. You’ll find archival pieces by Chanel, Yves Saint Laurent, Schiaparelli, Dior, Alaïa, and Jean Paul Gaultier, alongside contemporary interpretations by Erdem, Jacquemus, Marine Serre, and Jonathan Anderson. It’s a dialogue not just between fashion and art, but between generations of designers.
It’s easy to become overwhelmed by the sheer variety, or distracted by the other objets woven in across the rooms of the Richelieu Wing. There may be a particular designer or house you want to see — or, like me, you may go in with an open mind. Below are ten of my favourite pieces from the exhibition.
10 Must-See Pieces from Louvre Couture
Here are ten pieces that stood out — not just for their beauty, but for how they were presented within the Louvre’s galleries. They’re listed by exhibit number to make them easier to find when you visit.
Each number refers to its listing in the official exhibition guide.
10/11 – Chanel by Karl Lagerfeld, ‘Paris-Byzance’ Collection (2010–2011)
The way this gilded cuff and necklace were displayed alongside medieval treasures was extraordinary. You had to look twice to spot the Chanel logo nestled among 13th-century relics.
19 – Chanel by Karl Lagerfeld, Trompe-l’œil Clutch (2004–2005)
A book, but not a book. This miniature quilted leather bag caught so many people by surprise — a witty play on the art of display.
20 – Loewe by Jonathan Anderson, Blue Shirt with Wings (2023–2024)
A simple silhouette transformed by metallic copper wings. Presented next to a medieval angel sculpture, this piece glowed in its own modern sanctity.
21 – Hermès by Nadège Vanhée, Horn and Lambskin Dress (2021)
A modern take on chainmail, suspended in a grid-like lattice over a cream silk dress. Reminiscent of medieval armour but utterly contemporary in execution.
26 – Chanel by Karl Lagerfeld, Paris-Édimbourg Collection (2012–2013)
My favourite piece in the exhibition. This short tweed dress, edged in feathers and embroidery, looked completely at home against the deep tones of the hunting tapestry behind it. A masterclass in texture, silhouette, and setting.
32 – Alexander McQueen, ‘Plato’s Atlantis’ (2010)
Vibrant reptilian textures and intricate tailoring brought this short McQueen piece to life. Set amongst tapestries, it felt like a creature emerging from another dimension.
51 – Fendi by Silvia Venturini Fendi (2019–2020)
This heavily embellished tulle gown stood tall against a dramatic backdrop of myth and text. Modern craftsmanship in quiet conversation with ancient weaving.
75 – Balenciaga by Cristóbal Balenciaga (1961–1968)
This felt more like an art installation than a dress. A cloud of structured white volume floating in an 18th-century salon — a stark and beautiful contrast.
76 – Maison Margiela, Artisan Collection (2014–2015)
Presented like part of the furniture — quite literally. This embroidered bodice and dotted skirt matched the salon’s upholstery with uncanny precision.
95 – Christian Dior by John Galliano (2005)
Opulence in full effect. This red embroidered ballgown with ermine-trimmed hem was perfectly staged in the Salon de Napoléon. It looked like it had never left.
Looking for more inspiration? You can find more of my favourite displays on Pinterest: Louvre Couture.
Tips for Visiting ‘Louvre Couture’
1. Book in advance — Entry to the Louvre requires a timed ticket, even with a museum pass. These slots can and do sell out, especially on weekends. Visit the Louvre.fr for tickets, or download their official ticket app.
2. Use a Paris Museum Pass — If tickets appear unavailable, try selecting the option for Paris Museum Pass holders. We were told the exhibition was sold out — until we booked with the Pass and suddenly had our pick of times.
3. Pick up a map — At the start of the exhibition, you’ll find a printed guide showing where all 99 exhibits are located. Some are obvious. Others are hidden in plain sight. You can also download a copy of the PDF map from the official website — just don’t forget to bring a pen!
4. Make a checklist — We created a list of all the exhibits in order so we could tick them off. We made it to 88. The other 11 are still hiding somewhere. Click here to download a PDF list of all the exhibits with our compliments.
5. Allow time — If you’re a fan of fashion or decorative arts, give yourself time to absorb it all. We spent over five hours across two visits and still felt like we hadn’t seen everything.
A Closing Reflection
A once-in-a-lifetime exhibition that could only be at the Louvre.
Is it any coincidence that the world’s greatest fashion houses are based here in Paris, just a stone’s throw from the Louvre? It’s as if these designers have spent days wandering these very halls, sketching and absorbing centuries of inspiration. The Louvre becomes not only a setting, but a creative wellspring — an extraordinary showcase for the greats.
This is a wonderful exhibition — and clearly the result of an enormous curatorial effort. It’s not just about selecting 99 fashion pieces. It’s about finding their echoes in the museum’s vast collection and placing them with thought and purpose.
And it works on multiple levels. If you simply want to admire beautiful pieces and take in the craftsmanship, you can. If you want to trace artistic lineages and spot moments of inspiration, you can do that too. But perhaps most importantly, the exhibition gently draws your eye to the museum’s permanent holdings. Works you might otherwise walk past — medieval textiles, Byzantine jewellery, even cabinet legs — suddenly feel vital. Fashion gives them a modern context.
That, I think, is what makes Louvre Couture so successful. It’s not just that the fashion is extraordinary — it’s that the pairing elevates both. And I suspect very few institutions could have pulled this off. The V&A might match the flair. But the depth and scale of the Louvre’s collection? That’s something else entirely.
Louvre Couture: Review Summary
Verdict: Unmissable. A rare fusion of art and fashion that only the Louvre could pull off.
Best for: Fashion lovers, museum wanderers, anyone with an eye for detail.
Tip: Go twice. You’ll miss too much on one visit.
Visited: April 2025
All images taken by the author during this visit.
Exhibition: LOUVRE COUTURE – Art and Fashion: Statement Pieces
Location: Department of Decorative Arts, Richelieu Wing, Musée du Louvre
Dates: 24 January – 21 July 2025
Tickets: €22 – or free with the Paris Museum Pass (timed slot still required)
If you’re looking for more beauty on a long weekend in Paris, have you considered dining at Le Train Bleu or adding a splash of modern colour at Tous Légers by the Luxembourg Palace?
