Beyond the Runway: Fashion Comes to Life at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs

In Paris, fashion is never simply a question of what to wear. It is an art form, a record of its time, and a meeting point for craftsmanship, imagination, and cultural identity. At the Musée des Arts Décoratifs, just steps from the Louvre, the story of fashion extends well beyond the finished garment, encompassing the hands that make it, the images that shape its reputation, and the collections that preserve its history.

This season, two exhibitions offer different perspectives on that creative world. Look! 40 Years of Fashion at the Museum follows the journey of clothing from the designer’s first sketches to the museum gallery, while Rafael Pavarotti, Photographer considers the power of the fashion image through the work of one of contemporary photography’s most distinctive voices. For visitors who want to go a step further, the museum’s visites-ateliers offer the opportunity to look closely, experiment with techniques, and take part in the creative process themselves.

The story behind the clothes

On view through April 4, 2027, Look! 40 Years of Fashion at the Museum celebrates four decades of fashion exhibitions and collections at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs. At the heart of the exhibition are 40 iconic outfits, presented as part of a much larger story about how fashion comes into being, and how it is ultimately preserved for future generations.

The journey begins long before a garment reaches the runway. Drawings and patterns give shape to an idea; couture workshops bring it to life through fabric, embroidery, and painstaking construction; fashion shows and photography present the finished work to the world. Even then, the story is far from over. Conservation, restoration, and the careful work of museum specialists allow these creations to survive beyond the moment for which they were designed.

Alongside the garments, visitors can see the details that reveal the thinking and skill behind them, from embroidery samples and patterns to model pieces. These objects offer a glimpse into the process that often remains hidden behind the glamour of a finished collection.

What makes Look! particularly compelling is this attention to the journey rather than simply the result. A garment becomes more than a beautiful object: it is the expression of an idea, the product of specialist craftsmanship, and a piece of cultural history. The exhibition also invites visitors to consider the museum itself as part of that story, preserving not only the clothes but the knowledge, techniques, and creative decisions that made them possible.

From looking to making: the visites-ateliers

For those who leave the exhibition curious about the techniques behind the clothes, the museum’s visites-ateliers provide a natural next step. Combining an exhibition visit with a practical workshop, these sessions invite participants to move beyond observation and try out some of the ideas and processes that shape fashion design.

For adults ages 15 and up, De pli en aiguille explores textile techniques such as pleating and embroidery before moving into a hands-on workshop inspired by garment-making. It offers a chance to appreciate the precision involved in working with fabric, while gaining a more personal understanding of the choices that contribute to a finished design.

Younger visitors can approach fashion through experimentation, too. Designed for children ages 7 to 10, Sous toutes les coutures begins with a visit to the exhibition before inviting participants to use simple patterns, folding, and cutting to create a wearable fashion accessory. For ages 11 to 14, Inspiration mode takes inspiration from the research that precedes a collection, encouraging participants to bring together sketches, images, and textiles in a notebook of ideas.

Each workshop offers a different way into the world of fashion, whether through the tactile qualities of fabric, the construction of an accessory, or the early stages of a designer’s creative process. The emphasis is on looking carefully, trying things out, and understanding how an idea can develop into something tangible.

For families, these activities offer a more participatory way to spend time at the museum. For adults with an interest in textiles, design, or craftsmanship, they provide an opportunity to engage with fashion from a fresh perspective. In both cases, the exhibition becomes a starting point for making and thinking, rather than the end of the visit.

The power of the fashion image

If Look! reveals what happens behind the scenes, Rafael Pavarotti, Photographer turns the focus toward the image itself. On view through May 2, 2027, the exhibition presents more than 200 prints in the first exhibition in France dedicated to the Brazilian photographer, placing his work in dialogue with photographs from the museum’s own collection.

Pavarotti’s images are known for their vibrant color, striking compositions, and confident visual impact. His work moves between fashion editorials, portraits, and campaigns, with subjects including Rihanna, Harry Styles, and Beyoncé. He has contributed to publications such as Vogue, i-D, and Acne Paper, and worked on campaigns for fashion houses including Dior, Balmain, Maison Margiela, Ferragamo, and Off-White.

His path into photography began in childhood. Raised in Pará, in the Brazilian Amazon, Pavarotti drew inspiration from his family and surroundings. Self-taught from the age of 12, he went on to develop a visual style that has attracted international attention. A February 2022 cover of British Vogue, featuring seven Black models, brought his work to a wider audience and reflected his contribution to conversations about representation in fashion.

Seen alongside the museum’s collection, Pavarotti’s photographs offer another way to think about the relationship between clothing and image. Fashion is not only created in the atelier; it is also shaped by the camera, the styling, the lighting, and the choices that determine how a garment is seen. His work provides a vivid counterpoint to Look!, connecting the physical object with the visual world that surrounds it.

A different perspective on Parisian fashion

The Musée des Arts Décoratifs offers a setting in which fashion can be considered from several angles: as a form of design, a craft, a visual language, and a part of cultural history. Its current exhibitions bring these perspectives together, from the details of garment construction to the force of contemporary photography.

The visites-ateliers add another dimension, allowing visitors to move from looking at the work of designers and photographers to experimenting with creative techniques themselves. Whether you are interested in the history of fashion, the making of a garment, or the images that define an era, the museum offers an opportunity to spend time with fashion beyond the runway.

Visitor information

Musée des Arts Décoratifs
107 Rue de Rivoli, 75001 Paris

Look! 40 Years of Fashion at the Museum
On view through April 4, 2027

Rafael Pavarotti, Photographer
On view through May 2, 2027

The museum is open Tuesday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Temporary exhibitions remain open until 9 p.m. on Thursdays.

Admission: €15; reduced admission €10; free for visitors under 26.

For exhibition details, workshop information, and visitor planning, visit madparis.fr.