From January 24 to July 21, 2025, the Musée du Louvre will be hosting its first-ever exhibition devoted entirely to fashion. This major event, entitled "Louvre Couture", takes place in the rooms of the Objets d'art department, covering an area of almost 9,000 square meters. It features an unprecedented dialogue between contemporary haute couture and key pieces from the Louvre's collections, spanning periods from the Byzantine era to the Second Empire.

The exhibition highlights 65 outfits and 30 accessories by some of the biggest names in fashion, including Karl Lagerfeld, Yohji Yamamoto, Dolce & Gabbana and pioneer Marie-Louise Carven. The creations are combined with the museum's historic objects, such as the armor of Henri IV, tapestries, goldsmiths' and silversmiths' pieces and precious furniture. This marriage of classic art and contemporary fashion reveals the influence of history and art on designers, while highlighting the richness of the Louvre's collections.

Under the direction of Olivier Gabet, head of the Objets d'art department, this exhibition is part of a renewal process for the institution. Gabet, former director of the Musée des Arts Décoratifs, aims to explore how art collections can inspire designers, and to highlight the importance of museums in the creative process of fashion designers. Nathalie Crinière, known for her daring stagings (notably at the Galerie Dior and the Musée des Arts Décoratifs), is responsible for the scenography.

Until now, the presence of fashion at the Louvre has been limited to fashion shows, such as Louis Vuitton's in the Cour Marly, or more modest exhibitions, such as the one devoted to Yves Saint Laurent in 2022. This new exhibition is far more ambitious, with the aim of attracting a new public and promoting the Objets d'art department, which is often overlooked by the general public.

The event is also an opportunity to pay tribute to Marie-Louise Carven, a key figure in French fashion. In 1973, the designer donated a collection of 18th-century objects to the Louvre, underlining her deep connection with art. Today, the House of Carven, headed by Louise Trotter, continues to perpetuate this heritage.

The influence of art on fashion has been extensively explored in several recent books, such as Défilé au Louvre by Sophie Fontanel and Louvre haute couture by Sabine de La Rochefoucauld, which analyze the representations of clothing in the museum's paintings. This exhibition at the Louvre extends this reflection, exploring the connections between fashion creations and works of art across the centuries.
" Louvre Couture" promises a unique experience, uniting for the first time in this mythical venue two worlds which, far from being opposites, are mutually nourishing. The Louvre is opening the way to new forms of artistic expression, confirming that fashion, like art, is a reflection of its time and heritage.

"LOUVRE COUTURE" LE LOUVRE, OBJETS D'ART DEPARTMENT
UNTIL JULY 21, 2025
PARIS 1ER
LOUVRE.FR