LOOK ! 40 ans de mode au musée

How does a garment become a museum piece? With ‘Look! 40 Years of Fashion in the Museum’, the Museum of Decorative Arts invites visitors to explore forty years of exhibitions that have marked fashion’s entry into the realm of cultural heritage. Showcased in the museum’s main gallery, forty iconic silhouettes take visitors on a journey through this history, from Moments of Fashion to Christian Dior, Couturier of Dreams, from The Surrealist Worlds of Elsa Schiaparelli to Playing with Light and The Mechanics of Lingerie. As visitors follow the exhibition route, the evolution of how clothing is viewed is revealed, from its creation in the ateliers to its inclusion in the collections. The exhibition thus sheds light on a story that is often overlooked: that of the techniques, artistic crafts and expertise that transform a fashion creation into cultural heritage.

Creative workshops behind the scenes at the museum

The exhibition traces the two lives of a garment. Before it is preserved, studied or exhibited, it is conceived, designed and crafted by a host of artisans and designers. Sketches, patterns, embroidery samples, model collections and fashion photographs bear witness to this creative process, which showcases the excellence of the arts and crafts. You will also discover how photography, fashion shows – which have become true artistic performances – and the staging of the models all contribute to shaping a creation’s identity. Behind every silhouette, therefore, lies a dialogue between innovation, craftsmanship and artistic expression.

Preserving a living heritage

The exhibition also highlights the less visible work of curators, conservators and museum professionals. From the storerooms to the exhibition galleries, their work helps to preserve the memory of fashion and pass on this heritage to future generations. Through this behind-the-scenes look at creation and conservation, ‘Look! 40 Years of Fashion at the Museum’ invites visitors to view clothing in a new light: not merely as a fashion item, but as a living testament to craftsmanship, an era and a cultural history in constant reinvention.

Beauty is revealed in Paris Region’s exhibitions.