There is nothing on the fashion calendar quite like the Haute Couture shows, which take place twice yearly and represent the lofty pinnacle of Parisian craft – superlative expressions of construction and embellishment, with a couture gown taking hundreds of hours of handcraft to complete (to qualify for haute couture status, each garment must be made to measure to the particular contours of a client’s body). The presentations themselves reflect the rarefied status of the gowns on show, often featuring fantastical sets and starry front rows, or taking place in the historic couture salons in front of just a handful guests.
This season marks something of a turning point: it will be Chanel’s last collection by an in-house creation team before the arrival of Matthieu Blazy later this year; Dior will sit out the season to allow Jonathan Anderson time to settle into his new role; and Demna will present his final collection for Balenciaga before he heads to his new role as creative director of Gucci. Elsewhere, Glenn Martens will mark his first collection at Maison Margiela – replacing John Galliano – and shows from Schiaparelli and Armani Privé will round out the schedule.
