fashion exhibition vintage Dior azzedine alaïa foundation fashion exhibition paris Olivier Saillard
CHRISTIAN DIOR, Carmen, evening gown, Autumn-Winter 1951 haute couture collection, Longue line. Paris, Fondation Azzedine Alaïa. Photography by LAZIZ HAMANI. Courtesy of DIOR

Get ready for the double fashion exhibition showcasing Alaïa’s private archive of vintage Dior

This fall, Paris will host a rare fashion exhibition celebrating vintage Dior, as La Galerie Dior partners with the Azzedine Alaïa Foundation to present parallel shows exploring the intersection of two iconic couturiers. La Galerie Dior will open its doors from November 20th, 2025, to May 3rd, 2026, offering visitors the chance to see more than 100 garments from Alaïa’s private collection, many of which are being revealed to the public for the first time. Meanwhile, the Azzedine Alaïa Foundation will stage its exhibition from December 1st, 2025, to May 3rd, 2026, showcasing 30 Dior designs from Alaïa’s archive alongside an equal number of his own creations, illustrating the profound dialogue between the two masters of couture.

Fashion exhibition Paris: a double celebration

La Galerie Dior will showcase over 100 garments from Alaïa’s personal archive, emphasizing his admiration for Christian Dior as well as his successors, including Yves Saint Laurent, Marc Bohan, Gianfranco Ferré, and John Galliano. The exhibition highlights the meticulous construction, innovative silhouettes, and fabric mastery that defined Dior’s work, while offering a window into the inspiration behind Alaïa’s own creations.

In parallel, the Azzedine Alaïa Foundation in Paris’ Marais district will display 30 Dior designs from Alaïa’s collection alongside an equal number of his original pieces. The show traces the dialogue between the two designers, revealing how Dior’s groundbreaking techniques and aesthetic sensibilities influenced Alaïa throughout his career.

Azzedine Alaïa Foundation: curatorial vision

Both exhibitions are curated by Olivier Saillard, director of the Alaïa Foundation, in collaboration with Gaël Mamine. Saillard emphasizes Alaïa’s lifelong fascination with the architecture of garments and the intricate structures that brought dresses to life.

Visitors can expect a compelling exploration of haute couture history, complemented by the publication of two exhibition catalogs: Azzedine Alaïa’s Dior Collection (Rizzoli) and Azzedine Alaïa and Christian Dior, Two Masters of Couture (Damiani), featuring essays by Laurence Benaïm, Alessandra Ronetti, and Olivier Saillard.

Step into Olivier Saillard’s world, where fashion history meets performance, personal narrative, and inventive exhibition design—read our interview now.