Galerie Dior and Fondation Azzedine Alaïa join forces for a surprising double exhibition

This autumn, Paris is home to an exceptional duo. The Galerie Dior and the Fondation Azzedine Alaïa have joined forces to present a double exhibition revealing an artistic and historical link that has been little explored: that between Christian Dior and Azzedine Alaïa.

Dior through Alaïa’s eyes

Azzedine Alaïa, an admiring disciple, has cultivated a secret passion for Dior all his life. Hired for a few days at Dior in 1956, he was marked by the demanding nature of theAvenue Montaigne workshops, a memory he maintained throughout his career. Later, he became a collector. Among his thousands of haute couture pieces, around 600 Dior creations are in his personal collection, including those from the houses run after Dior by Yves Saint Laurent, Marc Bohan, John Galliano and Gianfranco Ferré.

The first part of this dialogue will take place from November 20, 2025 to May 3, 2026 at the Galerie Dior, located on the prestigious Avenue Montaigne. On display will be a selection of over a hundred Dior pieces from the Alaïa archives, never before shown publicly.

Dialogue of silhouette and inspiration

From December 1 to May 3, 2026, the Fondation Alaïa in the Marais district of Paris will be staging its own version of the exhibition. Called Alaïa et Christian Dior, deux maîtres de la couture, it will feature around 30 Dior outfits collected by Alaïa and as many creations by the couturier himself. The exhibition is curated by historian Olivier Saillard, with the assistance of Gaël Mamine.

The aim is to show how the New Look, launched by Christian Dior in 1947, influenced Alaïa’s world of sensibility, particularly in his obsession with volumes, petticoats and load-bearing structures. The exhibition highlights these aesthetic and conceptual correspondences that span the decades.

Why you can’t miss this exhibition

For haute couture enthusiasts, this is a rare opportunity to see the creations of two masters side by side. The exhibition allows us to understand the sources of influence and the youthful dreams of a couturier who became a legend, and to measure the echoes of Dickens, Dior and Alaïa in contemporary wardrobes. It’s also a fine example of living heritage, of a collection that tells a personal story as much as a collective history of French fashion.

Practical info

Dior Gallery

• Dates: November 20, 2025 to May 3, 2026
• Address: Galerie Dior 11, rue François-1er, 75008 Paris
• Opening hours: 11 am to 7 pm, every day except Tuesday. Last admission at 5.30pm.
• Price: full price €16, reduced price €12

Azzedine Alaïa Foundation

• Dates: December 1, 2025 to May 3, 2026
• Address: Fondation Azzedine Alaïa 18, rue de la Verrerie, 75004 Paris
• Tickets: full price €10, concessions €3; free tickets subject to conditions
• Opening hours: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily