Dior offers a free exhibition of 126 haute couture pieces in a Parisian palace during Fashion Week

Paris celebrates couture with panache: a Dior selection invites itself to a palace. During Paris Fashion Weekthe house brings together archives and recent outfits. The whole event takes the form of a free exhibition, designed for a broad public.

A couture rendez-vous during Fashion Week

In the heart of a Parisian palace, rare silhouettes line up in silence. There are 126 pieces, from key years and active ateliers. The emphasis is on gesture and dress.

The company presents Haute Couture in a carefully designed scenography. The event is part of the Parisian calendar, with an international scope. This free exhibition also serves as a showcase of savoir-faire.

The pieces dialogue in terms of materials, volumes and eras. We move from a drape to a structured suit, then to an embroidered dress. What’s more, each room is devoted to detail.

“Couture lives best when seen up close.”

Practical information and visiting tips

Come early if possible, as attendance varies from day to day. Access can be regulated by slots, depending on exhibition capacity. This free exhibition also attracts the curious, students and professionals.

Allow yourself some quiet time to read the labels and observe the finishing touches. Photos are often tolerated without flash, to preserve the fabrics. However, check the instructions at the entrance.

• 126 Dior pieces presented in a Parisian palace
• During Paris Fashion Week
• Focus on Haute Couture and know-how
• Access designed as a free exhibition open to as many people as possible
• Tip: come early and allow 30 to 45 minutes.

Dior – Spring-Summer 2023 Haute Couture. An apparent lightness masks precise construction and atelier embroidery. Lines play with light, while volumes remain mobile.

Know-how and memory of the house

Showing the hands of the workshops changes the way you read a collection. We see how the fabric is cut and weighed, then how it fits on the body. As a result, this free exhibition becomes a lesson in how to look.

The course brings together fabrics, beading and folds. Contrasting materials create a rhythm, from matte to shiny. The balance between archives and recent creations quickly becomes apparent.

Dior – Autumn-Winter 2023-2024 Haute Couture. Silhouettes gain density, with more grounded volumes and muted textures. Then, the cut sculpts the look, without losing the grace of movement.

Preserving these pieces requires precise gestures and time. Textiles react to light, heat and handling. The mediation invites us to look without touching, to preserve the integrity of the works.

For whom and what

Students, the curious, travelers passing through: everyone finds an angle. The first look at the cut, the second at the history, the last at the staging. In short, couture speaks to all eyes.

A budget-friendly cultural outing is especially good for you. This free exhibition lets you get up close and personal with rare pieces, with no price barrier. What’s more, it offers a moment of suspended calm right in the center of town.

Preparing your visit to Fashion Week

Keep in mind the impact of the calendar, as the week is packed. The palace is also host to other events and crowds. As a result, the free exhibition may give rise to occasional queues.

Come light: small bag, charged battery, and patience if you need it. Pay close attention to the directions of the staff, who will keep things moving smoothly. Then adjust your route if a room is momentarily saturated.

If access comes in waves, wait a few minutes in between. The flow regulates quickly, especially in the middle of the day. As a result, this free exhibition remains enjoyable, even when demand is high.

Take the opportunity to look up at the ceilings and woodwork. The setting provides a showcase for the seams, without overpowering them. In this way, place and fashion converse in equal measure.

• free exhibition