Twice a year, almost 100 fashion shows take over the most prestigious venues in Paris. The eyes of the world are turned to the City of Light for Fashion Week, a not-to-be-missed event in the world of fashion.
For a week, the whole of Paris will be buzzing to the rhythm of the catwalk shows by the great fashion houses such as Dior, Chanel, Jean Paul Gaultier, Yves Saint Laurent, Versace...
Spotlight on the catwalk shows
Fashion Weeks are marathons of fashion shows. On average, there are 15 shows a day, scrupulously programmed by the fashion federation to ensure that they do not overlap. More poetically, the catwalk shows are all about flashbulbs going off, people embracing exuberantly... but above all, they are inspiring moments when each designer brings his or her collections to life, generating dreams and creating a sensation to imprint his or her vision on the spectators.
Paris Fashion Week addresses not to be missed
The sites of the different shows at each Fashion Week differ at least in part each year. However, there are a few places that are a must-see:
- Le Grand Palais
- Le Jardin des Tuileries
- L’oratoire du Louvre
- Le Palais de Tokyo
- Le Palais de Chaillot
- Le 35-37
- L’Espace Niemeyer
- Le Carrousel du Louvre...
A brief history of Fashion Week
For one week, twice a year, Paris, New York, London and Milan create the event. These four fashion capitals of the world bring together designers, journalists and enthusiasts for their Fashion Weeks. These are major events for the economies of these cities, which, in France, have their origins in the birth of the Chambre Syndicale de Haute Couture in 1868 and the creation of the legally controlled appellation of “Haute Couture” in 1945.
However, fashion shows really took off in the 70s, notably during the “battle” between the French haute-couture team and the American styling team at Versailles.
Then in the 80s, with pharaonic catwalk events (such as Thierry Mugler's show at the Zénith in front of 6,000 people). But it wasn't until 1994 that the first real Paris Fashion Week took place, in the heart of the Carrousel du Louvre, under the impetus of the iconic Karl Lagerfeld.
Dates of the next Fashion Week and Haute Couture Week
The major designers' creations for the Autumn/Winter 2025-2026 season will be presented from March 3 to 11, 2025. The Spring/Summer 2026 shows will take place from September 29 to October 7, 2025.
In menswear, the Autumn/Winter 2025-2026 shows will run from January 21 to 26, 2025. The Spring/Summer 2026 shows will take place from June 24 to 29, 2025.
Note that the Haute Couture Week shows (not to be confused with Fashion Week) will be held from January 27 to 30, 2025 (Spring/Summer 2025 collection) and from July 7 to 10, 2025 (Fall/Winter collection).
