Look !

Exhibition at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Paris, 30 September 2026 – 4 April 2027

In 1986, the Musée des Arts de la Mode was founded as a sister institution, later becoming an integral part of the Musée des Arts Décoratifs. It was a wonderful way of proclaiming that fashion had a rightful place in the museum.

Forty years on, this exhibition catalogue invites readers on a journey through the some seventy fashion exhibitions organised by the museum. Through an essay reflecting on the history of the Musée des Arts de la Mode and numerous illustrations, it traces four decades of celebrating both haute couture and emerging design, whilst also exploring the social and cultural role of clothing. Finally, two dedicated chapters – one on the creation of garments and the other on their conservation – celebrate the skills and techniques which, from the sewing workshops to the catwalks and then behind the scenes at the museum, transform them into works of art.