Dior Sits Out July Couture Week as Margiela and Iris van Herpen Return to the Paris Runway

In a bold yet calculated move, Dior has officially opted out of the upcoming Paris Haute Couture Week, set to unfold from July 7 to 10, 2025. The announcement follows closely on the heels of Dior’s major leadership shake-up, with Jonathan Anderson stepping in as the new creative director across menswear, womenswear, and haute couture.

While the absence of Dior from the July couture calendar may leave a noticeable void, the French capital’s fashion fervor remains very much intact — Maison Margiela and Iris van Herpen are staging dramatic returns, sending excitement levels soaring.

Anderson, meanwhile, is expected to make his Dior debut with a menswear runway presentation on June 27, setting the stage for what could be a revolutionary era for the house.

This season also marks a pivotal moment for Balenciaga, with Demna’s final collection slated for July before Pierpaolo Piccioli takes the reins. Piccioli will unveil his first Balenciaga collection during Paris Women’s Ready-to-Wear later this year.

25 maisons grace the official couture calendar, released by the Fédération de la Haute Couture et de la Mode, including powerhouses like Chanel and Giorgio Armani, both of whom are doubling down with two shows each.

The week kicks off with a high-octane showcase by Schiaparelli and culminates with a show from Rami Al Ali, the Syrian-born couturier known for reimagining classic elegance — with a fan list that includes Beyoncé, J.Lo, Amal Clooney, Naomi Campbell, and Sharon Stone.

Chanel, still in transition, will present one final collection under its in-house design team. The much-anticipated debut of Matthieu Blazy as creative director is reserved for the October ready-to-wear season.

Among the most awaited debuts this season? Glenn Martens at Maison Margiela, following the iconic tenure of John Galliano, whose ethereal January 2024 show under a Parisian bridge was dubbed the decade’s best couture spectacle.

Other exciting returns include Adeline André and two guest couture labels — ArdAzAei and Robert Wun — both promising to shake up the couture landscape with fresh narratives.

Adding to the pre-show buzz, Celine and Patou will stage pre-couture runway events on July 6, injecting early glamour into an already jam-packed week.

Despite fewer than 5,000 global clients and a handful of studio-led collections, Paris Haute Couture Week remains the ultimate cathedral of creativity — where fashion meets fantasy, and the world’s most elite clientele gather in the city that invented style.