Louvre’s First Ever Fashion Exhibit

Tiya Antony
Fashion News Editor

Louvre is the world’s largest art museum and for the first time in its 231-year history, the museum is displaying fashion. The exhibit has been titled Louvre Couture, marking the first major fashion exhibit at the Louvre, and is on display from January 24th to July 21st. The exhibition was created by Olivier Gabet, the director of Louvre’s department of decorative arts.

Gabet wanted to show all the designs that had taken inspiration from the museum’s history. This allows the museum to be showcased as a source of inspiration that fashion designers have used for centuries, turning antiquities into fashion designs. The exhibition covers a 9,000 square meter space and features over 70 garments and 100 ensembles, from over 45 fashion houses. Some major brands include Louis Vuitton, Versace, Hermes, Alaia, Prada, Dior, Givenchy, Schiaparelli, Thom Browne, and Dolce&Gabbana.

The beauty of the fashion exhibit is that it blends well with the exquisite paintings, furniture, and decoration of the museum dating from the Middle Ages to the 19th century. The fashion accessories and pieces date from 1960 to today, making the museum acknowledge skill and modern popular culture. Notable pieces include a brass bust from Schiaparelli suit from the spring 2023 Daniel Roseberry’s collection. This piece is found in the section with other works made of gold and ivory that represent the Byzantine and Middle Ages. There is also a Chanel jacket created by Karl Lagerfeld and embroidered by Lesage. Dolce & Gabbana have a crystal embroidered dress which represents the 11th century mosaics of the Torcello cathedral. There is also a Dior silk gown with a sun motif that features various textures and colors.

The exhibition strays away from the typical museum format and viewers are encouraged to wander the museum in any way they want, in a non-linear fashion. Clothing is not traditional at the Louvre, but it is depicted through many other artifacts in the galleries such as the paintings that reflect each time period. Additionally, there is a nearby Museum of Decorative Arts and the Galliera that specifically holds fashion collections.

Fashion exhibitions garner a lot of attention and bring young and new audiences into the museums. Since fashion is universal, it also bridges against the cultural tensions that younger audiences may have in viewing classical culture that can also be viewed at the Louvre.

Paris is still the heart of fashion so there is a close connection between designers and the museum. The Louvre holding such a monumental exhibit is a token of appreciation for the art in fashion designing and how the two fields can work together for more innovation and collaboration.

Contact Tiya at antonyti@shu.edu