This summer promises to be packed with events for lovers of fashion and history. Paris, the true capital of style, draws attention not only with its Haute Couture Week but also with unique retrospective exhibitions dedicated to the history of fashion and design. We’ve selected four remarkable exhibitions for you—three in Paris and one in Málaga—perfect for those who want to do more than just relax this summer and dive into the world of fashion heritage.

 

1. Worth. Inventing Haute Couture

A new exhibition, opened on May 7 at the Petit Palais art museum, is dedicated for the first time to Charles Frederick Worth, the founder of haute couture. Titled “Worth. Inventing Haute Couture,” the display spans over 1,100 square meters and features around 400 items: dresses, accessories, paintings, and graphics that immerse visitors in the creative world of the “father of haute couture.”

 

British-born Charles Frederick Worth established his fashion house in Paris in 1858. He redefined the role of the designer, becoming an artist of fashion rather than merely a tailor. Worth was the first to sew his name onto dress labels and create collections showcased on live models rather than dolls, as was customary at the time.

 

The exhibition is located at Avenue Winston Churchill, 75008, Paris and is open until September 7, 2025.

 

More details and tickets are available on the museum’s website.

 

2. Louvre Couture

For those planning to visit the Louvre this summer, there’s great news: a museum ticket includes access to the Louvre Couture exhibition. This expansive display, housed in the decorative arts wing, covers 9,000 square meters. It showcases 65 clothing and accessory pieces from iconic French fashion houses, alongside historical artifacts from the Byzantine era to the Second Empire. The exhibition highlights the connection between fashion and the Louvre’s vast collection, as fashion and history always go hand in hand.

 

Among the exhibits are couture masterpieces from Chanel, Givenchy, Balenciaga, Jean Paul Gaultier, and Dior.

 

An entry ticket costing 22 euros provides access to the exhibition. It is open until August 24, 2025.

 

More information is available on the Louvre’s website.

 

3. Azzedine Alaïa, Thierry Mugler 1980–1990: Two Decades of Artistic Affinities

The Azzedine Alaïa Foundation has organized an exhibition dedicated to the friendship and creative collaboration between two brilliant designers—Azzedine Alaïa and Thierry Mugler.

 

The designers met in 1979 and quickly found common ground. Mugler, who already had his own fashion house, invited the then relatively unknown Alaïa to create a series of tuxedos for his new Fall/Winter 1979–80 collection. Mugler highly praised his friend’s work, publicly thanking him in a press release. This collaboration inspired Alaïa to establish his own fashion house, with Mugler’s active support.

 

The exhibition is presented in a playful “who’s who” format: the designers’ works are displayed side by side, allowing visitors to appreciate their mutual influence without immediately knowing which piece belongs to whom.

 

The exhibition can be visited at the Azzedine Alaïa Foundation building (Rue de la Verrerie 18, Paris) until August 31, 2025.

 

More details about the exhibition are available on the foundation’s website.

 

4. Gianni Versace. Retrospective

For those opting for a beach vacation in Spain this summer, a unique exhibition dedicated to Gianni Versace is taking place in the resort town of Málaga. Organized by the Fundación Unicaja cultural center, the exhibition has a charitable purpose: entry costs just 3 euros, with proceeds supporting Spanish funds combating unemployment.

 

The exhibition invites visitors on a journey through the life and work of Gianni Versace, whose brand remains iconic even after his murder. It features over 500 original items: clothing, accessories, photographs, fabrics, sketches, and prototypes. The display is divided into nine sections, starting with Versace’s childhood and covering his famous creative periods, including Baroque, Pop Art, Supermodels, Punk and Bondage.

 

The exhibition is open to visitors until June 30, 2025, inclusive. More details are available on the organization’s website.