8 Places to Visit During Paris Fashion Week

8 Places to Visit During Paris Fashion Week

Paris fashion week happens four times a year, with the addition of a couture season somewhere in-between. When this event is taking place in the city, certain neighborhoods and venues are buzzing with life, as models, influencers, designers and celebrities from all over the world come to enjoy the shows and the streets. 

PFW – by Myles Kalus Anak Jihem – Wikimedia Commons

Even without access to any of the actual shows, you too can be part of the fun if you know where to go. It’s not as exclusive as it appears to be, and for the most part civilians are welcome to “stake out” at the venues and add to the general hype before shows. 

Paris Fashion Week: All you Need to Know

Here’s some of the inside scoop to keep you looped into the PFW ongoings!

1. Le Marais in Paris

A top tip? The rich and famous who come to town for this event usually end up staying in the 1st arrondissement, or the 3rd/4th. Le Marais is considered to the a central point for getting to all of the shows on the schedule, and the vibrant street life makes this an attractive neighborhood for visitors during this time. 

Le Marais – by Zantastik – Wikimedia Commons

Just wandering the of le Marais streets during PFW guarantees spotting of influencers or celebs, clustered together in the tiny street cafes or doing street-style shoots with the hard working creatives that come to document the event. 

The Best Streets in Le Marais

2. Palais de Tokyo in Paris

The Palais de Tokyo is a monumental structure that is frequently used for the PFW schedule. Shows are hosted here, but the building is also home to the Modern Art Museum, so no one is barred from entering the public spaces. 

Palais de Tokyo – by Francisco Anzola – Wikimedia Commons

Plan a visit on the day of a particular show and you could get lucky with sightings or even access (a girl can dream). The outdoor terrace area also has a wonderful restaurant where you can sit and observe for a while as you monitor the logistics of the event for interest sake. It’s a whole other world!

A Look at the Palais de Tokyo

3. Musée Yves Saint Laurent in Paris

Considering you’re in Paris and it’s a week dedicated to fashion, why not pay the master himself a visit? The YSL Museum is situated close to the Champs Elysees. The building itself was the original studio and production space for Saint Laurent’s early works.

YSL Museum in Paris – by Mikani – Wikimedia Commons

The renowned designer also lived in the building, above the studio. The entire space is now a museum that is open to the public, and it is said that everything is left as it was just before he passed in 2008, even the papers on the desk… 

A Closer Look at the Yves Saint Laurent Museum in Paris

4. The Grand Palais in Paris

The Grand Palais is where the higher end catwalk shows tend to take place during PFW. The most esteemed would be the Chanel show, a highlight for all attending the week of festivities. 

Gaining access to this show is nearly impossible if you’re not someone who knows someone, but the venue itself is situated on a very quiet public street where passerby’s are not prohibited from being. 

The Grand Palais – by Thesupermat – Wikimedia Commons

If you want to glimpse the models arriving for the show, or peep the design of the set, arrive a few hours before the show it set to begin. This spot draws in a lot of crowds!

Top Facts About the Grand Palais in Paris

5. Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré in Paris

The Faubourg Saint-Honore is a posh shopping strip in Paris featuring all of the luxury brands that will show their garments on the runways shows around the city. When in Paris, celebrities, models and influencers love to pencil in time for a really good shopping spree, and this is where they go!

Rue du Faubourg Saint Honoré – by wowo2008 – Wikimedia Commons

The Faubourg Saint-Honore offers slightly more privacy than that of the Champs Elysees (they’re less likely to be swamped by fans here). Keep your cool!

The 10 Best Shopping Streets in Paris

6. Rodin Museum in Paris

The Rodin Museum is housed within the very romantic Hotel Biron. This venue has not only hosted many of the annual Dior shows, it has even inspired some of the collections. 

Rodin Museum – by Joe deSousa – Wikimedia Commons

The dynamic space is worth seeing if you want to tap into the same inspiration that Maria Grazia Chiuri has found here. The museum is open daily except for Mondays. In the event of Dior’s show being hosted here, gaining access could be tricky. I would call in advance before making any assumptions!

Top 10 Facts About Rodin

7. Wild and the Moon Cafe in Paris

Wild and the Moon is a vegan/health food cafe that has become one of the trendiest eats on the European continent. 

As charming as Paris may be, the cuisine is not necessarily ideal for those who are image conscious and health focused. Cream, butter and cheese in every dish doesn’t fend well for the fashionable gut. 

Wild and the Moon Charlot – by Wild and the Moon – Sourced from their website

Seeking lighter meals and healthier alternatives, models, influencers and celebs spend their pennies at this cafe, enjoying plant based deliciousness in every bite. It’s by no means a cheap eat, but it is undeniably moreish!

Best Brunch Spots in the Marais

8. Any Fashion Show Venue on the Schedule

The best way to be part of PFW without actually being invited to PFW, is to follow the show schedule venue by venue. The sidewalk of the establishments hosting the shows is actually a pretty solid front row experience, if sighting the artists and enjoying the street style is something you get a kick out of!

PFW – by Dustin Gaffke – Wikimedia Commons

The fashion week schedules can be found online a few weeks before the event is scheduled to start, allowing you to plan your daily routes and sighting spots. Dress to impress and you could even land yourself a spot in a street-style article!

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