Runways Meet Relics in the Heart of the Louvre
Fashion has finally claimed its place among the treasures of the Louvre, a museum better known for ancient armor than avant-garde attire. For the first time, nearly a hundred looks and accessories from 45 designers are woven into the museum’s decorative arts wing, creating a striking dialogue between centuries-old vases and contemporary couture.
Rather than tracing a linear history of fashion, the exhibition spotlights how designers borrow from the past—sometimes quite literally. Versace’s gold mesh gown, inspired by Byzantine relics, sits beside an 11th-century reliquary, while Balenciaga’s armor-like dress stands near King Henry II’s own suit of steel. Karl Lagerfeld’s fascination with 18th-century French décor finds new resonance as his Chanel embroidery echoes a blue-and-white commode from the museum’s collection.
In the opulent Napoleon III apartments, evening gowns lounge among velvet sofas and gilded mirrors, blurring the line between wearable art and historic grandeur. Here, fashion isn’t just on display—it’s in conversation with history’s most lavish rooms.
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