The temporary exhibition at the Louvre in 2025 became an event that brought together high fashion and world art. Entitled “Couture at the Louvre: Objects of Art, Objects of Fashion,” it presented dresses, shoes, accessories, and aesthetic objects from 45 leading fashion houses—from Chanel and Dior to Versace and Mugler—within the museum’s walls for the first time. The couture collection included 70 luxurious dresses and 29 accessories. The exhibition caused a real sensation and became a magnet for everyone who appreciates style, history, and aesthetics.
The initiative to combine art and fashion came from Louvre director Laurence de Car and curator Olivier Gabet. They managed to cover four historical periods: the Middle Ages, the Renaissance, the “Great Century,” and the 18th century. The exhibits were carefully selected to match the interior of the halls, blending in with the furniture, tapestries, gold and ivory items.
It is very easy to get lost among such breathtaking beauty. Therefore, in this article, I will talk in more detail not only about fashion masterpieces, but also give advice on how to organize your visit to the Louvre to save time. Since I was lucky enough to attend this exhibition, I will try to share my experience.
How to get to the temporary exhibition at the Louvre?
The temporary exhibition at the Louvre will run until July 21, 2025. It is best to purchase tickets in advance on the official website, which cost €22. I would recommend buying tickets for days when the museum is open until 9 p.m., as it only takes 2-2.5 hours to view the couture collection.
The exhibition itself is located in the Reshille wing on the second floor. It is easy to find, as there are signs with directions near each elevator. It is worth noting that dresses and other exhibits from famous fashion houses are scattered throughout the floor, and seeing them all is quite a challenge.
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Temporary exhibition at the Louvre: how to prepare for your visit
The Louvre is one of the largest museums in the world, and its scale is truly impressive. If you want to visit a temporary exhibition at the Louvre, it is best to buy tickets in advance. On the official website, you can download the current museum map and check the opening hours of the galleries, as some of them are periodically closed, and it can be difficult to get to the place you want to visit.
I recommend starting your tour with the exhibits that interest you most. If you are interested in painting, head to the 1st and 2nd floors. Fans of Ancient Egypt and ancient culture should head straight to the 0th floor.
As for the Mona Lisa, don’t worry, it is still on display in Room 711, but keep in mind that the line to see it is almost always impressive, and the distance to the painting is about three meters due to the protective barrier. It is definitely worth seeing, and it is best to do so closer to closing time, when the flow of visitors decreases significantly.
Entrance
A huge crowd of tourists purposefully heads to the main entrance, where you can stand for hours waiting for the long-awaited “peak” of the barcode. So feel free to turn around and go down to the Carrousel du Louvre gallery. The queue there is much shorter and it’s more pleasant to stand there, especially if the weather is bad. You can also leave your belongings in the shopping center if you have items that may be confiscated during the security check. Alternatively, you can leave any unnecessary items in the cloakroom after the security check. Without leaving the area, you can immediately pick up a map of the museum in your preferred language.
The museum itself is divided into three wings: Denon, Sully, and Richelieu. There are several restrooms on each floor of the wing, so don’t waste time standing in line at the entrance to the wing. Just take the escalator straight up and use the restroom on the floor you’re on. From my own experience, I can tell you that you can waste a lot of time waiting in line.
Nutrition
There are several cafés on the grounds of the Louvre where you can grab a bite to eat during your visit. The more expensive option is located on the second floor, where full restaurant meals are served. If you are looking for something simpler and more affordable, there is a cafeteria near the main entrance where you can buy paninis and other light snacks.
Another option is the food court in the Carrousel du Louvre underground shopping center, which is located outside the museum area. However, you should be careful here: if you leave the museum grounds, you risk having to wait in line again when you return. Sometimes security will let you back in without having to wait again, but there is no guarantee.
However, your ticket is valid for the entire day, and you are entitled to leave and return to the museum as many times as you wish. It is simply better to plan such trips in advance so as not to waste extra time.
It is best to bring snacks, sandwiches, and water with you, as hunger sometimes strikes at the most inopportune moment, when you are halfway through the wing, and to find a café, you have to go back and go through the whole quest again. There are conveniently located benches in the halls where any tourist can take a break and eat with a beautiful view of the works of art.
My observations and advice
Be prepared to walk a lot. So choose the most comfortable shoes and take as few things with you as possible so that nothing weighs you down. The museum is so huge that you can get lost even with a map. Sometimes, you might catch yourself thinking, “I’ve seen this ceiling somewhere before.” At that moment, it’s worth turning around and going to another floor, because there’s a good chance you’ll be walking past the same place several times.
In total, my visit to the Louvre took about 8.5 hours, including all breaks for rest and snacks. The first four hours were a real immersion into the world of beauty: I was literally overwhelmed with delight, admiring every hall, every tapestry, carpet, painting… Everything that came my way. It was a feeling of euphoria and complete visual delight.
However, closer to six o’clock, the opposite effect sets in—the admiration remains, but it is accompanied by noticeable fatigue in the legs and throughout the body. There is a lot of space, even more impressions, and the body begins to ask for a break.
Nevertheless, I am immensely happy that I was able to visit the legendary exhibition at the Louvre. It is not just a collection of masterpieces, it is a separate world that you want to return to again and again.
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