In its 231 years of glorious existence, the Louvre Museum–which is home to some of the most renowned art pieces in the world–has never hosted a fashion exhibition. That is until now. Running until July 21, the iconic Louvre Museum is hosting Louvre Couture, a special fashion exhibit displaying 45 fashion houses and designers ranging from Cristóbal Balenciaga, Alexander McQueen, Jean Paul Gaultier, Iris Van Herpen to JW Anderson. Participating brands have lent the museum over 100 garments and accessories dating from 1960 to 2025.
The exhibition highlights the stunning relationship between art and fashion, bridging centuries of creativity. The collection is displayed within the Louvre’s extensive decorative arts department, an area brimming with medieval armor, Renaissance tapestries, and sculptures. Visitors are invited to wander through these lesser-known sections of the museum, experiencing art through the lens of contemporary design.
Imagine standing in front of a gilded 16th-century reliquary, its sculpted hands frozen in time, and then turning your gaze to a stunning crystal-studded Thierry Mugler bodysuit. Or finding yourself surrounded by ornate 1600s ceramics, only to stumble upon Alexander McQueen’s legendary ‘Armadillo’ shoes, famous for their futuristic design and intricate craftsmanship. The juxtaposition is powerful: fashion as art and art as fashion, each enhancing the understanding of the other.
The Louvre Couture exhibition challenges the way we think about fashion. Is it art? Or is it a unique form of creation all on its own? Many of the pieces on display at Louvre Couture are as much a part of the museum’s heritage as the artifacts around them. From a crystal-embroidered Dolce & Gabbana dress inspired by 11th-century mosaics to Gianni Versace’s famous 1997 metal mesh gown, each piece offers a glimpse into how designers draw from the past to create something entirely new.
Through this exhibition, the Louvre invites us to step into a space where art and fashion coexist, blending past and present in a way that is as intellectually stimulating as it is visually striking.
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