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6 Fashion Exhibitions Not To Miss This Summer
Gird your loins – Paris is calling. With the Spring/Summer 2026 chapter of Fashion Month just around the corner, the fashion capital becomes a more attractive destination than ever.
For those who won’t obtain one of the highly coveted show invites: Fear not. The city that gave birth to couture offers many other opportunities to get lost in the rustling of silk and the clinking of pearls.
Whether you are a show attendee with some time to spare or a fellow traveller with a keen interest in fashion and its history, here are 6 fashion exhibitions in Paris you should not miss this summer…
“Azzedine Alaïa, Thierry Mugler. 1980-1990, two decades of artistic complicity” – Fondation Azzedine Alaïa
Few figures shaped late 20th-century fashion as profoundly as Azzedine Alaïa and Thierry Mugler. Alaïa’s work, renowned for the designer’s mastery of cut and drape, is frequently compared to Balenciaga and Madame Grès – the latter honoured in a 2023–2024 exhibition at the Fondation Azzedine Alaïa. Mugler, by contrast, is continuously celebrated for his theatrical, sculptural designs. This exhibition offers an intimate look at their creative bond, showcasing over 40 Mugler pieces from Alaïa’s private archive in conversation with his own work. It’s a tribute to their collaboration, mutual admiration, and lasting influence on fashion’s evolution.
Date: until June 29, 2025. Price: €10
“Au fil de l’or. The art of dressing from the Orient to the Rising Sun” – Musée du Quai Branly
The “Au fil de l’or” – or “Golden Thread” exhibition takes the visitor on a journey from the Maghreb to Japan exploring the historic bond between gold and textile arts. Spanning from 5,000 B.C. to today, it reveals how gold has been a symbol for power, luxury, and refinement in fashion all around the globe. Visitors can expect to see rare garments, gold-woven fabrics, and contemporary pieces like the brilliant couture of Guo Pei. Blending archaeology, craftsmanship, and fashion, this exhibit highlights the technical brilliance and cultural richness of gold in textiles.
Date: until July 6, 2025. Price: €14
“Louvre Couture, objets d’art, objets de mode” – Musée du Louvre
The prestigious 231 year old museum is debuting its first exhibition entirely dedicated to fashion, exploring the deep and ongoing dialogue between art history and contemporary fashion. Set within the museum’s Department of Decorative Arts, it presents 65 garments and accessories from major fashion houses, displayed in relation to masterpieces spanning from Byzantium to the Second Empire. Rather than being shown in isolation, each piece highlights historical parallels in technique, ornamentation, and aesthetic lineage. This truly special exhibition sheds light on how fashion designers draw inspiration from ancestral techniques and artistic heritage.
Date: until July 21, 2025. Price: €22
“The House of Worth: Inventing haute couture” – Petit Palais
The first major retrospective dedicated to Charles Frederick Worth, the Englishman who laid the foundations of modern haute couture in 19th-century Paris. Featuring over 400 works, this show traces the evolution of fashion from the opulence of the Second Empire to the elegance of the Roaring Twenties. Visitors can admire dazzling historic garments restored to luminous condition, learn about Worth’s pioneering branding, and explore his influential collaborations with houses like Louis Vuitton and Cartier. The exhibition also reveals how Worth’s business shaped the luxury fashion industry—from rapid production techniques to the use of seasonal collections. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and may never be replicated due to the extreme fragility of the pieces on display, so be sure to book your tickets well in advance so you don’t miss out.
Date: until September 7, 2025. Price: €17
“Temple of Love, the Rick Owens exhibition” – Palais Galliera
The Palais Galliera hosts the first major Paris exhibition dedicated to avant-garde designer Rick Owens, showcasing over 100 pieces from his early LA days to recent collections. Known for blending spiritual ritual, underground culture, and 1930s glamour, Owens’s work features striking sculptural designs, reclaimed materials, and his signature muted palette, especially “dust” grey. The exhibition, curated in collaboration with the designer himself, extends beyond the museum with fabric-wrapped statues and brutalist sculptures in the garden, creating an invitation into Rick Owens’s universe. This unique retrospective offers a deep dive into Owens’s creative visions, inspirations, and his partnership with Michèle Lamy, making it a must-see for fashion and art lovers.
Date: from June 28, 2025 to January 4, 2026. Price: 14€
“Paul Poiret, couturier, decorateur and perfumer” – Musée des Art Décoratifs
The Musée des Arts Décoratifs presents its first major monographic exhibition dedicated to Paul Poiret, a key figure of early 20th-century Parisian haute couture. Celebrated as the liberator of the female body for freeing women from corsets, Poiret revolutionised fashion. The exhibition, “Paul Poiret, la mode est une fête”, immerses visitors in his vibrant world from the Belle Époque to the Roaring Twenties, showcasing his work in fashion, decorative arts, perfume, celebrations, and gastronomy. Featuring 550 pieces, the show highlights Poiret’s lasting influence and immense creative genius. It is a captivating journey into the legacy of a visionary whose work continues to inspire designers from Christian Dior to today’s Alphonse Maitrepierre.
Date: from June 25, 2025, to January 11, 2026. Price: €15
For all the exhibitions it is recommended to book tickets online as much in advance as possible to avoid long lines or the risk of not being able to secure a spot at all. Even if you do not manage to see all of these beautiful tributes to fashion, do not fret: Exhibitions come and go, but we’ll always have Paris.
Image Credit: Michael Fousert via unsplash
