Fashion’s pinnacle of creativity and culture, Paris Haute Couture Week, begins on Monday, showcasing a plethora of top brands, debuts by new couturiers, and numerous accessory and jewelry events. This season is poised to captivate the world of elegance and style, with a media impact estimated at €200 million before a single garment is even shown.

France uniquely holds the term “couture” as a symbol of its cultural soft power, akin to “champagne,” reserved exclusively for high fashion presented in France.

The week opens with Schiaparelli and concludes with the sustainable, avant-garde designs of Swiss-born Kevin Germanier. Notable debuts this season include Alessandro Michele at Valentino and Ludovic de Saint Sernin as a guest designer for Jean-Paul Gaultier.

Invitations have been dispatched; Schiaparelli’s Daniel Roseberry sent out gold metal leaf invitations, while Michele’s were characteristically quirky – a pale blue box labeled “Vertigineux” containing three almond soaps, hinting at the dizzying experience to come.

The Federation de la Haute Couture et de la Mode (FCHM) tightly controls the official calendar, making entry slots both precious and hard to secure. This season welcomes Germanier and Miss Sohee, as highlighted by FHCM executive president Pascal Morand.

Although the couture shows are more intimate than ready-to-wear events, they cause significant traffic disruptions due to the fleets of limousines ferrying VIPs and TWAGS (“trillionaires’ wives and girlfriends”) around Paris. Alongside the official schedule, numerous other designers and high jewelry brands host their own displays.

The settings for these shows are some of Paris’ most iconic venues: Chanel at the Grand Palais, Schiaparelli at the Petit Palais, and Dior at the Rodin Museum, with Dior also unveiling its latest in its mansion on Rue Francois Premier. These venues not only showcase fashion but also attract a host of celebrities, particularly those seeking unique couture for the upcoming Oscars on March 5, with the ultimate goal to dress the Best Actress winner.