© Les Arts Décoratifs-Jean Tholance © Les Arts Décoratifs-Martin Argyroglo © Getty Images
At what point does a couture garment become so iconic that it deserves a place in a museum? In its brand-new exhibition “Look! 40 Years of Fashion at the Museum,” the Musée des Arts Décoratifs shines a spotlight on the craftsmanship that, from couture workshops to the museum’s backstage operations, transforms clothing into works of art. And this temple of haute couture certainly knows a thing or two about the subject: since the creation of the Musée des Arts de la Mode within MAD in 1986, four decades of increasingly iconic fashion exhibitions have followed one another within its walls. Here’s a look at a dream exhibition guaranteed to delight aesthetes and fashion victims of all stripes.
Fashion, a Piece of Our History
The exhibition is divided into two sections. First, we dive into the heart of fashion creation, with sketches, mood boards and even mood boxes from some of the greatest designers and creative directors on display: the starting point of it all. Immersive in design, the scenography evokes a couture workshop, with large tables covered in precious samples and exquisite embellishments, from master embroideries by Lesage to 3D prints on denim that visitors can actually touch. Stunning! Every corner of this long gallery highlights a stage in the creative process, from conception to the runway, illustrated with garments, samples, drawings and, of course, photographs. In the museum’s nave, 40 exceptional silhouettes by Hubert de Givenchy, Thierry Mugler and Martin Margiela, among others, bring the visit to life. Each one embodies a landmark from a past exhibition at the Musée des Arts de la Mode: Christian Dior, Couturier of Dreams, Shocking! The Surreal Worlds of Elsa Schiaparelli, Playing with Light and The Mechanics of Underwear, all unforgettable.
A true fragment of our history, garments are precious archaeological objects that bear witness to the cultural and social realities of their time. Preserving them is no small feat and requires a whole, largely unknown process… The second part of the exhibition reveals the garment’s afterlife within the museum and shines a light on the professionals working to preserve this heritage. The institution’s backstage operations are laid bare: acquiring works, the work of documentation specialists, textile conservation in storage… MAD pays tribute to all the behind-the-scenes players who allow fashion’s memory to survive and be passed on. From 17th-century dresses to creations by Iris van Herpen, including the work of Madeleine Vionnet, 220 works reveal the richness of the creative processes and the way a garment becomes part of our cultural heritage. Prepare to be dazzled!
“Look! 40 Years of Fashion at the Museum.” Open Tuesday to Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tickets online. Full price: €18, reduced rate for ages 18–25: €10.
© Les Arts Décoratifs / Jean-Marie Périer © Les Arts Décoratifs / Christophe Dellière © Les Arts Décoratifs
