Say hello to the ‘Le Grand Dîner du Louvre’, Paris’s answer to the Met Gala

For years, the Met Gala held annually at the iconic Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York has enthralled the world. Paris, with its reputation firmly cemented as the fashion capital of the world, is now all set to have its very own fashion gala. The stage is set for March 4 as one of the most famous museums in the world will welcome the crème de la crème of the fashion world for ‘Le Grand Dîner du Louvre’—a gala evening and dinner in the Cour Marly, the Louvre museum’s majestic pyramid, that’s perfectly timed to coincide with the Paris Fashion Week that runs in the French capital from March 3-11. 

The evening, titled Le Grand Dîner du Louvre, will bring together top fashion houses and designers to celebrate Louvre Couture: Art and Fashion — Statement Pieces, showcasing how treasures from the Byzantine era to the Second French Empire have inspired designers over time.

In a statement released by the Louvre, the museum announced, “For the first time in its history, the Louvre will host an exhibition entirely dedicated to fashion, its origins, and inspirations. This unprecedented and historic showcase will unfold within the very heart of our collections, engaging in a vibrant dialogue with the masterpieces housed in the Louvre’s Department of Decorative Arts. Featuring 71 silhouettes and 30 accessories loaned by 45 fashion houses—including designs by Iris van Herpen, Alexander McQueen, Dries Van Noten, Jacquemus and Vivienne Westwood, as well as archival pieces from Loewe, Balenciaga and Mugler.”

The preparations are already underway as the Louvre’s first fashion exhibition opens to the public this week on January 24 and is slated to show all the way until July 21. The presentation will showcase 71 looks and 30 accessories inspired by the decorative arts in craftsmanship, style, and design. According to its statement, its goal is to “show the close connection between fashion and art.”

Curated by Olivier Gabet, general curator of heritage and director of the Département des Objets d'art of the Musée du Louvre, the exhibition highlights the rising trend of monographs and showcases dedicated to luxury brands and creative directors. Spanning 9,000 square meters in the Decorative Arts galleries, it features pieces from renowned fashion houses, including French, Italian, British, Dutch, American, and Japanese labels.

Lead image: Pexels/Getty Images 

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