Archive Exhibitions to See in Paris this 2025

Paris, a city where history and luxury intertwine at every corner, offers the perfect setting for indulging in the extensive archives of some of the world’s most renowned fashion and design maisons. Here we delve into a select few of the finest archive exhibitions running in the French capital in 2025 and guide you to a pair of palatial hotels in accessible distance to the exhibitions, each with their own ties to archives.

La Galerie Dior

La Galerie Dior in Paris offers an immersive look into the legacy and creativity of one of fashion’s most influential maisons. Located at 30 Avenue Montaigne, the very address where Christian Dior unveiled his first collection in 1947, this museum offers an immersive journey through the House's illustrious history. Currently celebrating the 120th anniversary of Christian Dior’s birth visitors can explore 13 thematic rooms spanning two floors, each showcasing iconic designs from Christian Dior and his six successors: Yves Saint Laurent, Marc Bohan, Gianfranco Ferré, John Galliano, Raf Simons, and Maria Grazia Chiuri.

The exhibition is thoughtfully curated, rotating displays twice yearly to preserve delicate textiles and introduce fresh narratives. This approach allows guests to experience a dynamic range of art, including contemporary works, alongside corresponding garments, shoes, accessories, objects, and illustrations that tie into each theme.

A highlight of the gallery is the recreation of Monsieur Dior's office, providing a glimpse into his personal workspace. In addition to live demonstrations of skilled artisans carrying out their craft. The experience culminates in the "Dior Ball" room, an immersive space where elaborate gowns are showcased amidst captivating projections. 

Book tickets in advance through the official website here for €12. If you're planning your visit, keep in mind the gallery will be temporarily closed from the 5th until the 20th of May as the current display is being rotated, making way for a new presentation of Dior designs for guests to discover and enjoy.

LOUVRE COUTURE - Art and Fashion: Statement Piece

The Louvre, for the first time ever, has welcomed fashion beneath its pyramid of glass. The LOUVRE COUTURE Art and Fashion: Statement Pieces exhibition is currently running until the 21st of July 2025, marking a historic moment for both fashion and museum culture. Opening nearly 9,000 square metres of its galleries to explore the rich and often surprising relationship between contemporary fashion and the decorative arts and featuring over 100 garments and accessories from 45 iconic designers and fashion houses. This includes pieces from Cristóbal Balenciaga and Hubert de Givenchy to Iris van Herpen and Marine Serre, tracing the journey of these archive pieces to inspiring generations of couturiers in the present day.

Organised by the Louvre’s Department of Decorative Arts and curated by Olivier Gabet, the exhibition spans many centuries, and styles. It pairs fashion with artworks from the museum’s esteemed collections such as furniture, ceramics, textiles, and tapestries to emphasise how designers have interpreted the motifs and materials from periods ranging from Byzantium to the Second Empire. Rather than following a linear path, the exhibition invited visitors to wander freely through themed sections, encouraging organic connections between the art objects and garments.

Designs on display reflected an extraordinary range of influences. Iris van Herpen’s sculptural silhouettes echo Gothic architecture; Dries Van Noten’s embroidered pieces draw from medieval tapestries; Maria Grazia Chiuri for Dior finds inspiration in Italian Renaissance ornamentation; and Karl Lagerfeld’s 2019 Chanel jacket, with embroidery by Lesage, replicates the pattern of an 18th-century chest of drawers by Mathieu Criaerd from the Louvre’s own collection.

Far from simply illustrating the past, these pieces reinterpret it. By placing couture within the context of one of the world’s greatest art collections, the exhibition redefines fashion as both an archive of culture and an art form.

Purchase tickets for LOUVRE COUTURE Art and Fashion: Statement Pieces here for €22 until the 21st July 2025.

Dolce&Gabbana - Du Cœur À La Main

The Du Cœur à la Main: Dolce&Gabbana exhibition at the Grand Palais was showing from January 10th to March 31st 2025. Following a highly successful debut in at Milan’s Palazzo Reale, where it consistently sold out and received international acclaim, the exhibition in Paris had the same (if not a more dramatic) impact. The exhibition, now having come to anend, was consistently sold out during its run. It was only late at night that SPHERE Digital Editor, Lisa Barnard, was able to squeeze in for a twilight viewing. A spectacular celebration of Italian craftsmanship, culture, and the distinctive creative vision of Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana, the exhibition brings together over 200 one-of-a-kind creations from the fashion house, offering a unique opportunity to explore the transformative process of Dolce&Gabbana's design philosophy—from the heart to the hands. Curated by Florence Müller and designed by Agence Galuchat, the exhibit spans 1,200 square meters and is divided into ten thematic rooms, each revealing the diverse influences that shape Dolce&Gabbana’s haute couture, Alta Moda, Alta Sartoria, and Alta Gioielleria collections. Yes, the exhibition’s time in Paris is now over. However, first in Milan, then in Paris – where next? Sign up to the newsletter here to be the first to hear about the next location, and to receive exclusive access to pre-sale tickets.

At the core of the exhibition is the brand’s deep connection to Italian culture, from art, architecture, and music to regional craftsmanship and the romantic notions of “la dolce vita.” Visitors will discover how the designers have woven these elements into their collections, often drawing from Italian traditions like Sicilian ceramics and the grandeur of Renaissance and Baroque art. The exhibition also highlights Dolce&Gabbana’s dedication to artisanal techniques, featuring intricate embroidery and draping that echo the legacy of Italy’s finest craftsmen. These collaborations with master artisans have elevated traditional Italian handcraft, giving a modern twist to time-honoured methods. The exhibits include stunning displays of embellished garments that pay homage to the mosaic artistry of Venice, the classical beauty of ancient Greek mythology, and the opulent drama of Baroque figures.

Notable highlights include the Alta Moda and Alta Gioielleria pieces that evoke the opulence of religious iconography, as well as fashion creations inspired by opera and ballet, illustrating the designers’ ongoing fascination with dramatic Italian art forms. The exhibition also brings in artwork by Anh Duong, whose self-portraits capture the essence of Dolce&Gabbana’s creations against the backdrop of iconic Italian landscapes. The blending of art, culture, and high fashion in this exhibit sits as a testament to Dolce&Gabbana’s legacy in shaping and redefining Italian luxury fashion. Each piece, whether inspired by the boldness of Sicilian carts or the intricacy of Venetian glasswork, serves as an expression of beauty, craftsmanship, and of the human hand’s ability to create the extraordinary.

Sign up the the newsletter for access to pre-sale tickets here.

Christofle - A Brilliant Story

Currently on view at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs until the 20th of April, Christofle, a Brilliant Story offers a comprehensive look at the near two-century legacy of this pioneering French silversmith. Founded by Charles Christofle and Henri Bouilhet in the 1830s, Christofle transformed silverware from elite luxury to an accessible staple in daily life, thanks to innovations like the development of gold- and silver-plating techniques. With nearly 1,000 pieces on display—from silverware and jewellery to paintings, drawings, and promotional posters for the brand—this exhibition underscores how the company has continually redefined its craft throughout its time.

Much beyond a set of silverware, Christofle has had numerous extraordinary collaborations with designers such as Gio Ponti, Karl Lagerfeld, and Pharrell Williams, whose fresh approaches laced the brand with a couture edge. The experience immerses you behind the scenes, revealing the intricate processes of silvering and gilding in a workshop setting that fuses traditional tools with modern technology.

Highlights include the company’s award-winning works from World Fairs, where monumental pieces adorned with vibrant colours and patterns showcased Christofle’s innovative spirit. From the iconic table settings of the Ritz to the Concorde’s on-board service, Christofle’s reach extended far beyond the dining table, becoming synonymous with luxury in palaces, trains, and even planes. Whether detailing the evolution of tableware or spotlighting collaborations with contemporary designers, the exhibition paints a picture of Christofle’s enduring influence on the intersection of craftsmanship, design, and French luxury.

Find out more and purchase tickets here, for €15 or free for visitors under the age of 25.

Where to stay

When in Paris to immerse yourself in the world of Dior, there is only one place to stay, Hôtel Plaza Athénée (aka the Haute Couture address). The relationship between the house of Dior and this legendary hotel goes back over 70 years. It was on avenue Montaigne, outside Plaza Athénée’s red awnings, that a young Christian Dior first imagined the future of his couture house. Drawn to the hotel’s refined, cosmopolitan clientele, he opened his atelier just across the street at 30 avenue Montaigne and presented his debut collection there in 1947.

Since then, the bond has only grown deeper. Dior regularly lunched at the hotel, considered it his second home, and even named early designs Plaza and Athénée in its honour. Today, this legacy lives on in the hotel. The Dior Spa Plaza Athénée offers haute couture-inspired treatments in spaces lined with sketches and archival photos, and the signature Haute Couture Eiffel Suite pays tribute to Dior with its soft pink palette, pearl-grey accents, and couturier’s mannequin. To visit the Dior gallery without staying at Plaza Athénée would be to miss the full story.

Another spectacular hotel in Paris , conveniently located near the other three exhibitions on Rue de Rivoli, is Le Meurice, also part of the prestigious Dorchester Collection. Long regarded as the hotel of choice for artists, creatives, and free spirits, Le Meurice has seamlessly woven its commitment to art and craftsmanship into every corner of its space. Last year, the hotel’s storied walls played host to the Objets Sensuels exhibition, a showcase of France's finest artisanship, which invited guests to embark on a sensory journey through the country’s rich craft traditions.

This celebration of tactile beauty extends into the very fabric of the hotel, where renovation projects since 2019 have transformed its rooms and suites — including the legendary Belle Etoile Suite — into private apartments. Designers Charles Jouffre, Margaux Lally, and Luc Berger have worked with skilled French artisans to imbue these rooms with rare craftsmanship, from intricate hand-drawn wallpaper to colourful stained glass, passementerie, and silk embroidery — each piece an homage to timeless techniques that capture the spirit of haute couture.

Find out more and books rooms at Plaza Athénée and Le Meurice.