Five fashion shows of the world in 2023

The new year means new exhibitions for the museums of the world’s biggest fashion capitals. From the highlights of 1997 at the Palais Galliera in Paris to a tribute to Karl Lagerfeld at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York: here are five must-see fashion shows in 2023.

Christian Dior: Designer of Dreams at the Tokyo Museum of Contemporary Art

After Paris, London and New York, this Christian Dior retrospective has just arrived in Tokyo, focusing in particular on the close ties between Dior and Japan. The great designer’s influences, such as his passion for gardens, and his most representative creations are at the center of this exhibition, whose scenography has been specially designed to pay tribute to Japanese culture. But that is not all. The public can also view haute couture creations and accessories designed by the creative directors who succeeded Christian Dior, including Yves Saint Laurent, Marc Bohan, John Galliano and Maria Grazia Chiuri.

Christian Dior: Designer of Dreams – until May 28, 2023 at the Tokyo Museum of Contemporary Art.

1997, Fashion Big Bang at the Palais Galliera in Paris

The famous Y2K (or “2000”) has been an inexhaustible source of inspiration since the beginning of 2022, yet it is 1997 that is considered pivotal in fashion. “The Big Bang”, as Vogue Paris magazine called the spring-summer 1997 haute couture season, which the Palais Galliera will present in an exhibition that we will discover from March 7. The public will appreciate collections that have become iconic such as ‘Body Meets Dress, Dress Meets Body’ by Comme des Garçons and will remember the arrival of new creative directors who are now considered top designers such as Hedi Slimane, Stella McCartney and Nicolas Ghesquière. The exhibition will also commemorate important events such as the opening of the Colette concept. The whole exhibition will present no less than 50 designs, videos and archival documents.

1997, Fashion Big Bang – from 7 March to 16 July 2023 at the Palais Galliera in Paris.

Karl Lagerfeld: The Line of Beauty at the Met in New York

The Metropolitan Museum of Art has decided to dedicate its major spring exhibition to the one and only fashion designer, Karl Lagerfeld. An exceptional retrospective that will take the form of a tribute to his creative genius and personality through no less than 150 designs, of course complemented by sketches signed by the great German designer. His work methodology, creative process, designs and his relationships with his closest collaborators… The public will be able to appreciate all of the designer’s work from the time he worked for Balmain, Patou, Chloe, Fendi, Chanel and his own label. . As every year, the Costume Institute exhibition will be opened by the most sought-after event on the Met Gala red carpet, where all the guests will wear Karl Lagerfeld’s designs.

Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty – May 5 to July 16, 2023 at the Met, New York.

Gabrielle Chanel. A fashion manifesto at the V&A in London

After the Palais Galliera in Paris, it’s the Victoria & Albert Museum’s turn to host this retrospective dedicated to Gabrielle Chanel. This is the first UK exhibition dedicated solely to the work of the French designer, and the V&A will present some rare creations from its own collection to mark the occasion. In total, the museum will collect more than 180 views, as well as jewelry, accessories, cosmetics and perfumes. All this is to highlight the evolution of Gabrielle Chanel’s emblematic style as well as her journey up to her last collection in 1971.

Gabrielle Chanel. Fashion Manifesto – from 16 September 2023 to 25 February 2024 at the V&A, London.

Fashion and sport at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris

With the 2024 Paris Olympics approaching, the Musée des Arts Décoratifs decided to explore the close and increasingly common links between the worlds of fashion and sport. The museum will install clothes, accessories, photographs, paintings, posters and videos that demonstrate the connection of these two worlds from ancient times to the present. Sportswear, whether designed and/or used for training or in the city, will be at the heart of this exhibition, which will highlight tennis dresses from the 19th century, the iconic yellow Tour de France jersey and Lacoste polo shirts, as well as more recent collections including sneakers and clothing with logos and collaborations between sports and couture that are now a big part of our everyday lives.

Fashion and Sport – from 20 September 2023 to 7 April 2024 at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris.