“I don’t do fashion. I am fashion,” said the late great Coco Chanel. And twice a year, all eyes fall on the French capital as it becomes the pinnacle of the international fashion scene during Paris Fashion Week. Oozing all things couture, thousands flock to the city to attend runway shows, trade events and glittering, star-studded parties.
Paris Fashion Week began in 1973 and has been highlight of the global fashion industry ever since. February is known as Fashion Month, when New York, London and Milan host their biannual fashion weeks. As the birthplace of haute couture, Paris Fashion Week is naturally the climax. Check out our quick guide to making the most out of Paris Fashion Week, arguably one of the highlights of the fashion calendar.
Paris Fashion Week first timer? Look no further our guide has got you covered
Where to go?
The objective of fashion week is to show the industry what’s happening next season. It’s divided into three categories; prêt-à-porter, haute couture and men’s fashion.
Although shows and parties are spread across the city, the week is largely centred around the 1st arrondissement, namely the Louvre and Jardin des Tuileries, which swarms with models, agents, stylists and fashion editors from all across the world. Fashion’s main players, including Chanel, Givenchy, Dior, Vuitton and Céline, host their shows in iconic Paris landmarks, like the Grand Palais and the Carrousel du Louvre, and invitations are as rare as hens’ teeth. Smaller labels seek out trendy warehouses and other unique venues in the outer districts.
Of course, unless you’re part of the industry, invitations to shows and events are pretty thin on the ground, but it doesn’t mean visitors can’t enjoy the buzz of having the world’s fashion elite all in one place. The city truly comes alive during Paris Fashion Week when designers, models, stylists, editors, photographers, bloggers and influencers all descend on the city for a week of runway shows, events, meetings and parties.
Where to stay?
To be in the hub of things, it’s best to stay as central as you can, but be mindful that the most popular hotels get booked up months in advance. Why not embrace the fashion theme and book a room in the boutique Hotel du Petit Moulin in the trendy Marais district, which has rooms styled by the great Christian Lacroix. Alternatively, there is Mama Shelter, an ultramodern hotel in the 20th arrondissement that is the work of Philippe Starck. Here you’ll find a young and achingly cool crowd.
The theatrical Hotel du Petit Moulin is the epitome of Parisian chic
Where to eat?
There are various places to see and be seen during Paris Fashion Week, which changes on a year-by-year basis. But Cafe Ruc, near the Louvre, is a perennial favourite with the fashion crowd, and Le Castiglione on Place Vendôme is always swarming with hungry style hounds. If you want to go against the flow, head to L’Artisan du Burger, a super-trendy gourmet burger joint. There are three branches throughout the city, but St Germain is an industry favourite.
During Paris Fashion Week, most attendees pretty much live on coffee. Buzzy fashion favourites include Fondation or The Broken Arm, both in Le Marais, which serves excellent cafe crème and cold-brews to keep you going.
Where to shop?
Le Marais is one of Paris’s trendiest districts. It’s famous for its buzzy vibe during Paris Fashion Week and many of the best parties and after-parties are held here. It’s also a popular spot for picking up the latest threads. Famed for its vintage and designer scene, many shops stay open later during PFW, catering for those in need of a quick costume change. Colette in Place Vendôme is a popular concept store with a great designer collection. If it’s vintage couture you’re after, check out Didier Ludot who flogs covetable vintage pieces by Chanel, Dior, Balenciaga and YSL from his small boutique in Galerie Montpensier.
Enjoy the DJ sets and delicious cocktails at Mama Shelter’s buzzy bar
Where to get street-styled?
For people-watching and celeb-spotting, you can’t go wrong in the vibey Pigalle District, which hosts many industry after-parties. Le Marais, Canal Saint Martin and around the Jardin du Tuileries, are also popular places for wannabe fashionistas to see and be seen. Or you could try and blag entry into David Lynch’s club Silencio, in Montmartre, which hosts some of the coolest fashion show parties in town.
Where to see a fashion show?
Sadly, the chances of seeing one of the big runway shows during fashion week are pretty slim, as they are only open to the industry elite; buyers, fashion editors and journalists. The venues are usually kept a secret, only known to invitees, and often at the last minute. However, Place Vendôme and Place de la Concorde are usually buzzing with fashion crowd. If you want to see models in action, visit Galeries Lafayette which hosts free runway shows every Friday afternoon.