Dior, Chanel, Stéphane Rolland: Highlights from Paris Haute Couture Week 2025 so far

Showcasing the pinnacle of fashion and craftsmanship Haute Couture Week 2025 is unfolding in the French capital this week. A-listers like Pamela Anderson, Dua Lipa and Kylie Jenner have descended upon the city, making each show a star-studded spectacle.

From Rahul Mishra’s otherworldly vision and Armani’s 20 year couture celebration, to Chanel’s grand showcase at the iconic Grand Palais, the week has already delivered some unforgettable moments.

Here’s a look at what you might have missed so far

Dior – A dance through time

Presented in a specially constructed box in Paris’ Musée Rodin, designer Maria Grazia Chiuri drew from Dior’s iconic silhouettes such as the Trapèze line, originally conceived by Saint Laurent in 1958, and the Cigale silhouette from 1952, both updated with çağdaş fabrics.

Chiuri’s vision unfolded with flowing capes adorned with organza-crafted feathers, shimmering black coats embroidered with three-dimensional silver, and lace-trimmed tulle skirts that evoked a sense of playful nostalgia.

Crinolines were reimagined as ethereal cages with embroidered branches, and moiré-tailcoat miniskirt ensembles added bold, çağdaş contrasts to classic silhouettes.

A standout piece included a burnished silver gown shimmering with intricate embroidery, creating a sense of movement and transformation. Another highlight featured a cape of delicate petals that turned the model into a surreal flower-woman, blending whimsy with couture precision.

Chanel – Defying expectations

Chanel’s show at the Grand Palais defied expectations – moving away from the brand’s signature use of black.

Instead the collection, centred around Gabrielle Chanel’s lesser-known talent as a colourist, featured joyful pastels and midnight blue. Whimsical yet dramatic designs, including leg-of-mutton sleeves and bold silk red trains, were complemented by delicate buttons in rock crystal and rhinestone.

Notably, the show earned a rare standing ovation from Anna Wintour, the long-standing US Vogue chief. The front row was packed with stars, included Kylie Jenner, BLACKPINK’s Jennie, and Dua Lipa.

Stéphane Rolland – Joséphine Baker & Brâncuși inspire breathtaking show

Stéphane Rolland’s brought high-wattage glamour to the catwalk in Paris. The French designer’s spring-summer 2025 haute couture collection was inspired by two “pioneers and avant garde figures”: dancer, singer and actor Joséphine Baker and Romanian sculptor, painter and photographer Constantin Brâncuși.

“I wanted to mix two artists,” said Rolland before the show. “Joséphine because as a dancer, it’s all about movement. And you know, my fashion, the way I structure my clothes, it’s all about movement. And separately, beside that, Constantin Brâncuși, it’s very structured and round in the same time, and it’s also movement. So for me, I just reunited them, you know, and I made a mix of artistic expression.”

Canadian model Coco Rocha led a collection that featured reimagined tuxedos in silk, cape dresses in white crepe, chiffon gowns with embroidery in ebony and crystal, and layered organza pleated gowns which mimic the movement of Baker’s dancing.

Rahul Mishra – Crows, cosmos, and couture

Rahul Mishra presented a deeply personal, space-age collection inspired by astronomer Carl Sagan’s Pale Blue Dot poem and Hindu scripture.

Sagan was heard speaking over the soundtrack of the catwalk show, while models appeared to be beamed onto the catwalk as sparkling structural cape swept along the catwalk.

Textured, angular architectural shapes were constructed from a twinkling black palate, perfect to outfit sci-fi royalty ruling some distant planet.

Birds were also incorporated as one look flew slowly down the catwalk, the model surrounded by face framing halo of glittering crows, elsewhere a series of gold gowns glowed.

Armani – Celebrating 20 years of opulence

Fashion maestro Giorgio Armani marked 20 years of his haute couture line, Armani Privé, with an elegant and emotionally charged show in Paris’s chic 8th arrondissement.

At 90 years old, the designer presented a collection diving into the archives of craftsmanship and moving some guests to tears as he took his bow at the end.

A segmented black gown shimmered with silver threads that gleamed like oil, Asian-inspired fitted jackets sparkled with intricate embroidery, and full skirts encrusted with crystals added both texture and weight, swinging heavily and noisily as the models walked.

Pearls featured prominently throughout the collection, used as embellishments and symbolic references to serenity, a recurring Armani motif.

The show’s setting, within the palazzo Armani and beneath gold-gilded ceilings, provided an intimate yet majestic backdrop for the celebration. Guests, including Oscar-nominee Demi Moore and Jessica Biel, were seen to tap their feet to the booming music.