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
East Meets West in Maison Kitsuné for Shu Uemura Line
Heather Boo is the face of the fun collection, which features a range beauty products and accessories.
German Designers Show in Paris
German Vogue and Der Berliner Mode-Salon introduced 30 German designers to the international fashion scene.
Dior RTW Spring 2016
In the Dior collection he showed on Friday, Raf Simons put a gentle spin on futurism, coloring it in soft…
Chalayan RTW Spring 2016
For spring, Hussein Chalayan expanded on his Cuba-inspired resort collection and added fresh, feminized…
Sienna Miller Attends Vionnet Store Opening in Paris
The British actress was the surprise guest of honor at the cocktail and dinner.
Sybilla Sets New York Pop-up Store
The Spanish designer, who rose to fame in the Eighties, relaunched last season.
Dior Homme Christens Paris Store With Party
Karl Lagerfeld and Aymeline Valade were among guests.
Loewe RTW Spring 2016
The spring show was as thrilling as the weather was chilling — full of invention applied to wearable…
Lanvin RTW Spring 2016
Alber Elbaz went "like" minded for spring, delivered a sartorial mix of looks — all intended to look good on…
Vetements RTW Spring 2016
A packed house for its spring runway show signaled that curiosity is high about this buzzy, androgynously…
Wanda Nylon RTW Spring 2016
Change was in the air as the label known for its water-repellent fabrics added dresses, skirts and jumpsuits…
Talbot Runhof RTW Spring 2016
Marella Agnelli inspired Johnny Talbot and Adrian Runhof's insouciant and harmonious spring collection, which…
A.F. Vandevorst RTW Spring 2016
Divergent worlds collided on An Vandevorst and Filip Arickx's spring runway as they channeled a biker rally…
Barbara Bui RTW Spring 2016
Barbara Bui's spring collection had fringe, leather, lingerie and bare flesh to spare.
Rick Owens RTW Spring 2016
Realizing his fashions are about "distorting the figure," Rick Owens recruited gymnasts and dancers to carry…