Paris Fashion Week
Paris Fashion Week is regarded as one of the most prominent events in the fashion industry. The biannual event is categorized as one sector of the “Big Four,” completed by London, New York and Milan Fashion Weeks.
Divided into menswear, haute couture and ready-to-wear, Paris Fashion Week follows a spring and fall schedule, with the dates determined by the Fédération de la Haute Couture et de la Mode — the French Fashion Federation.
The organization presented the first official Paris Fashion Week in 1973, overseen by New York Fashion Week founder Eleanor Lambert and Versailles curator Gérald Van der Kemp. Doubling as a fundraiser to renovate the Palace of Versailles, the event marked the first time menswear, haute couture and rtw were showcased together in Paris.
The inaugural event served as a turning point for fashion events to come, and included the Battle of Versailles fashion show on Nov. 30, 1973. Dubbed by WWD’s editor John B. Fairchild as the "Battle," the landmark fashion competition saw five American brands — Anne Klein, Bill Blass, Halston, Oscar de la Renta and Stephen Burrows — showcase eight designs against French designers — Marc Bohan for Christian Dior, Emanuel Ungaro, Hubert de Givenchy, Pierre Cardin and Yves Saint Laurent. Big stars including Josephine Baker, Elizabeth Taylor and Liza Minelli attended — and the American designers emerged victorious.
Over time, Paris Fashion Week has expanded, becoming the more daring of the other fashion weeks, and put the city of Paris on the map as one of the most fashionable in the world. Although Paris Fashion Week doesn't have a designated venue, a landmark location for most Paris Fashion Week shows is the Carrousel du Louvre in Paris, which is appreciated for its architectural design.
Renowned moments in Paris Fashion Week history include Thierry Mugler’s 1984 fashion show, the first time a designer opened a runway show to the French paying public; Madonna gracing Jean Paul Gaultier’s 1992 runway show in a topless bra, and the late Karl Lagerfeld’s Chanel fall 2014 rtw fashion show, which featured a supermarket-themed runway.
Contributing to the digital age, Paris Fashion Week has also become a spectacle for viral moments on social media. Coperni’s 2022 Paris Fashion Week show concluded with Bella Hadid having her Fabrican dress spray-painted on in real-time, gaining 2.8 million likes on Instagram.
Paris Fashion Week
Porter Classic Shows Off Indigo Cool at Paris Men’s Week
The brand is taking its (literally) groovy merchandise outside Asia for the first time.
Editions M.R Men’s Fall 2017
Mathieu de Ménonville and Rémi de Laquintane took their references from the equestrian world for fall.
Hed Mayner Men’s Fall 2017
The rising Israeli designer veered towards sportswear references and bright colors, splicing these together…
WWD Recommends
MX Maxime Simoëns Opts for See-Now-Buy-Now
The designer hopes to dodge potential copycats with his new men's wear line.
Fashion Calendar 2017: Fashion Week Dates, Industry Events and More
See here for dates of international fashion weeks, industry events and more important dates.
Vera Wang to Receive Legion of Honor, Skip Fall Show in N.Y. for Film
The designer will not show in New York in February.
Huber Egloff RTW Spring 2017
The collection worked contrasts moving between classic and subversive constructions and fabrics.
Kenzo, MAC Throw Studio 54-Themed Bash
MODERN-DAY FACTORY: There was an underground vibe at Paris’ three-story, multiroom Le Consulat on Paris…
Designers Apartment Showcases 15 Young Labels
There were several newcomers at the Chambre Syndicale-backed showroom this session.
Americans in Paris Trumps With New Location
The Pavillon Etoile, with views over the Arc de Triomphe, looks set to be the home of the CFDA/Vogue Fashion…
Maria Cornejo Hosts Paris Cocktail
The designer was celebrating her spring collection and birthday.
Cacharel RTW Spring 2017
Cacharel's second collection under its new design studio went in a very different direction in a bid to…
Heaven Gaia RTW Spring 2017
Chinese designer Ying Xiong's elaborate designs focused on her homeland's handicrafts, mixing dip-dyed silk…
Paris Fashion Crowd Flocks to Martine Sitbon Book Signing
Stella Tennant, Anna Cleveland and Craig McDean were among guests at the event.
Shiatzy Chen RTW Spring 2017
The colors and patterns of stained glass windows figured among inspirations.