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
Tyla Revisits a Gaultier Classic in Black Louboutin So Kate Pumps at Paris Fashion Week
At the fall 2026 show in Paris, she paired the house's cone-bodice line with one of Christian Louboutin's…
Naomi Watts and Kai Schreiber Match in Balenciaga Black at Paris Fashion Week
The mother-daughter pair wore coordinating spring 2026 Balenciaga runway looks to Pierpaolo Piccioli's fall…
Niccolò Pasqualetti Fall 2026: Altar-ed State
The Italian designer showed a collection with primal textures and metal twisted and bent around the body like…
WWD Recommends
Nordstrom Celebrates Anniversary With Paris Fashion Week Party
Chitose Abe, Peter Dundas and Albert Kriemler were among the guests who attended the party at Lafayette's…
Aubrey Plaza Goes Courtside Bright in Lacoste’s Orange Hybrid Heels at Paris Fashion Week
At the fall 2026 show, she paired the spring 2026 runway variation with a pleated white mini, red tunic top…
Maxhosa Africa Fall 2026: Louder for Those in the Back
Creative director Laduma Ngxokolo doubled down on his knitwear rooted in Africa but meant to go everywhere.
Lacoste Fall 2026: It’s All in the Spin
Creative director Pelagia Kolotouros injected 1980s sportswear influences and landed a slick casual-cool…
Elie Saab Fall 2026: Night Moves
The Lebanese designer looked at the '90s through a downtown lens, as the company keeps a "day by day" eye on…
Zuhair Murad Fall 2026: Make a Swish
The designer looked to the works of Giovanni Boldini for a collection of soft muted colors and plenty of…
Andreas Kronthaler for Vivienne Westwood Fall 2026: Joy in Tough Times
"I'm trying to move on, to learn how to live with the loss and still have fun," said the designer, who looked…
Ann Demeulemeester Fall 2026: Teenage Dreams
Billy Idol walked the show but he wasn't the only hero in Stefano Gallici's collection.
Balenciaga Fall 2026: Collar Me Beautiful
Pierpaolo Piccioli collaborated with "Euphoria" creator Sam Levinson, echoing his portrait of a new…
Paris Jackson Leans Into Power Clashing With Textured Slouch Boots at Vivienne Westwood
The black high-shaft pair cut through a layered, print-heavy look at the label's fall 2026 show in Paris.
Elizabeth Olsen Returns to Givenchy’s Boudoir Bow Mules for Paris Fashion Week
The actress wore the Sarah Burton design again at the label's fall 2026 show, paired with a boxy blazer and…
Barbara Palvin Brings the Python Heel Trend to Elie Saab in Paris
The model paired the ankle-strap sandals with the label's snakeskin trench and sheer black tights.