Haute Couture Week news and archive

'It's time': Haute couture embraces men

Long the preserve of women, haute couture has in recent years opened up to men who dare to ditch the black tuxedo for something with a few more feathers, sequins and embroidery. Couture week in Paris, which ends on Thursday, has seen an unprecedented number of male looks. It's a sign of the times in the rarified realm of haute couture. "Red...

Fashion

First Saudi at Paris Fashion Week underlines dramatic changes

Saudi Arabia is continuing its multi-billion-dollar entry into all aspects of global culture, hitting a new milestone on Thursday with the first Saudi designer presenting at Paris Fashion Week. Mohammed Ashi's haute couture show -- his first as part of the official roster after years of dressing top celebrities -- is "the peak of my career," he...

Fashion Featured

Charles de Vilmorin, the young designer turning couture unisex

At just 26, French designer Charles de Vilmorin is setting the tone for fashion's most elite segment, the haute couture week in Paris, with his gender-fluid aesthetic. "The others might not necessarily do it, but I have to do it," de Vilmorin told AFP ahead of his first live catwalk show during the official couture week on Monday. While...

Fashion

Greek goddesses at Dior couture show

There were no frills or heels for Christian Dior as the label took over the Rodin Museum in Paris on Monday, putting on a fitting homage to Greek goddesses for the opening day of haute couture week. The show opened with a long white woollen dress and matching cape, while other designs used pleats to evoke classical-era statues. The clothes were...

Fashion

Paris couture week skirts around riots with Surrealist start

An artist-inspired show from Schiaparelli opened Paris haute couture week Monday, easing fears that fashion shows would have to be cancelled due to five nights of rioting across France. French label Celine cancelled its show on Sunday (held outside the official calendar) due to unrest sparked by the police killing of a teenager last week. But...

Fashion

Celine cancels fashion show as France mourns

French fashion house Celine has cancelled its menswear show in Paris this weekend due to ongoing riots sparked by the police killing of a teenager, designer Hedi Slimane said Saturday. "A fashion show in Paris, while France and its capital are bereaved and bruised, seems... inconsiderate and totally misplaced," Slimane wrote in French on...

Fashion

Couture week comes to Paris amid riot fears

The fashion world is on edge as haute couture week kicks off on Monday in Paris, which has seen nights of violent riots over the police killing of a teenager. French label Celine cancelled its menswear show -- scheduled outside the official calendar -- on Sunday due to the riots, with designer Hedi Slimane saying it was "inconsiderate" to hold a...

Fashion

Valentino to stage AW23/24 haute couture show in France’s Château de Chantilly

Italian luxury house Valentino is continuing to mix up the fashion week calendar, now revealing that it will be staging its haute couture autumn/winter 2023/24 show in Château de Chantilly in France. The event will take place on July 5 during Haute Couture Week, when creative director Pierpaolo Piccioli will unveil the brand’s latest collection....

Fashion

Ackermann’s Gaultier debut and Balenciaga is absent in Haute Couture Week calendar

Following on from its Paris Fashion Week Men’s announcement, the Fédération de la Haute Couture et de la Mode (FHCM) has also unveiled its provisional schedule for the upcoming Haute Couture Week. The event for the spring/summer 2023 season is set to run from January 23 to 26, spanning 30 shows and one presentation, held by Iris Van Herpen....

Business

Dior requests compensation from Valentino for Rome couture show

Valentino’s most recent Couture show, which took place on July 8 at Rome’s Spanish Steps, has reportedly caused a nearby Dior store to file a complaint for disruption. Initially reported by WWD, the retail manager of Christian Dior Italia was said to have written a letter requesting compensation of 100,000 euros in light of the supposed...

Fashion

In the footsteps of JP Gaultier, Olivier Rousteing humorously questions gender

Pointy breasts made famous by Madonna, but also female corsets with penises and moulded busts of pregnant women: the designer Olivier Rousteing questioning gender with his collection for Jean Paul Gaultier. Men in colourful skin-tight jumpsuits or sailor-patterned jumpsuits, perched on strong platform soles, opened the show on Wednesday evening...

Fairs

Paris Couture Week to feature live catwalk shows

Paris Couture Week taking place in July will feature eight catwalk events, with limited guests, according to the provisional calendar published by the Fédération de la Haute Couture et de la Mode this week. Luxury fashion brands Christian Dior, Chanel, Giorgio Armani Privé, Balenciaga, Jean Paul Gaultier, Azzaro Couture, Zuhair Murad and...