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Paris is Fashion Capital of the World
Despite increasing political tensions, fashion was a pillar of the French economy and identity. -
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World War II
WW2 decimated the Jewish population which largely controlled the ready-made clothing industry in Paris. After the war, the French had to return to haute couture which was, in some capacities, quite successful, but could not keep up with the youthful trends of the post-war period. -
Great Britain and France Declare War Against Germany
New fashions included a lot of military-inspired styles and Parisians were required to take gas masks with them everywhere they went. -
Decline in Couture Shows
Spring couture collections had very low attendance by foreign buyers and media but portrayed the strength and resilience of Parisians during the difficult times. -
Resilience of Parisian Fashion Community
Although times were tough, many fashion designers continued to use their creativity to create clothes that brought joy and beauty to their struggling country. Despite Nazi occupation and low attendance in Spring couture shows, many designers hosted shows in October of that year. -
Germany Enters and Takes Over France
German forces entered France on May 14, 1940. They then entered Paris on June 25, 1940. Complete occupation by the Nazi forces occurred in 1942. When Germany entered France, they had the intentions of moving the entire Parisian fashion industry to the German Reich but after years of discussion and resistance by the Parisian fashion industry, the Germans backed down. -
Liberation of Paris
Paris broke free from Nazi forces but fighting in France continued. During these four years of French occupation, much of the population suffered, including many fashion designers, seamstresses, manufacturers, etc. Fashion industry workers in France had absolutely no contact during this time with those in Allied countries, leaving many fashion designers/companies to struggle on their own. The persecution of so many Jewish manufacturers put great strain on the ready-to-wear supply chain. -
Christian Dior Emerges
Designer, Christian Dior, emerges into the fashion industry. His "New Look" was revolutionary and caught the eyes of people all over the world, rocketing him to fame. However, there were also critics. His famous fashion trend was seen negatively by many people in England where textile rationing was still in effect as result of WW2. -
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The Golden Age of the Couture
Inspired by Christian Dior, the Golden Age was a significant time in Parisian fashion where couture houses once again flourished. This was a very enlightened and exciting time, rising up out of the rubble of WW2. -
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Couture Houses Close
During this period, while many couture houses were thriving, fourteen closed. There were many structural problems in the French fashion industry, including the slow adoption of the ready-made clothing model. Many couture houses turned to licensing which was not sustainable and, oftentimes, ended up hurting more than helping. -
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Swinging London
During the 1950's, London was a hot spot for the latest fashion trends. Famous designers such as Mary Quant and John Stephen opened boutiques on King's Road and Carnaby Street. They appealed to youthful trends, men's fashion, and utilized ready-made fashion (which Paris struggled with) to their advantage. Paris thought that the youthful styles were no more than fads but eventually were forced to succumb to those same styles in their fashion community. -
The "Bomb" in Florence, Italy
Fashion started booming in Italy when the first major collective presentations occurred in Florence in 1951. This was so exciting and promising that it was said to pose a threat to the Parisian fashion industry. -
Coco Chanel Returns
At the age of 71, Coco Chanel returned to the fashion industry where she designed clothes until her death a few years later.This was significant in a period where most of the famous designers of the time were men. -
Emmanuelle Khanh Emerges
Former model, Emmanuelle Khanh released her first line in 1961. She was designated as the "Mary Quant of France" because of her youthful and playful styles. She brought new life to the French fashion scene. -
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Period of Anti-Fashion Sentiment
The 70's consisted of the rise of feminism and anti-fashion movement. People wanted clothing that was more functional than fashionable and rejected the presence of all fashion authority. -
Battle of Versailles
France and the US had a "battle" of fashion in the early 1970s. To settle the conflict, a French-American fashion show was put on as a benefit to support necessary renovations for the palace of Versailles. This fashion show featured five French designers and five American designers. According to many, the American's "won" this battle, shocking the fashion world. -
Milan Becomes Italian Fashion Capital
Milan took over Rome and Florence as the Italian fashion capital. Their focus was on luxury ready-made fashion and was very threatening to French fashion. -
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French Ready-to-Wear Flourishes
After a long struggle with re-adopting ready-to-wear, as a result of WW2, the French fashion scene finally began to embrace and see great success in ready-to-wear. Many famous designers, including Thierry Mugler and Jean-Paul Gaultier, led this new era in Paris. -
Karl Lagerfeld Presents First Couture Collection with Chanel
Chanel released their first couture collection with designer Karl Lagerfeld. While reviews were mixed, there was one magnificent dress that caught everyone's eye. This launched Lagerfeld's career with Chanel and gave much enthusiasm to new Parisian fashion. -
LVMH Founded
LVMH, the largest luxury conglomerate in the world is founded. LVMH owns brands including Dior, Givenchy, and Patou. -
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Resurgence of Dior and Givenchy
Famous fashion houses such as Dior and Givenchy underwent positive transformation in the 1990's. They imported new designers from London which revived their brands and brought them new successes. -
John Galliano Presents First Couture Collection with Dior
Designer John Galliano presents his first couture collection with Dior, exactly fifty years after Christian Dior introduced the New Look. Since then, Galliano has brought enormous success to Dior and the Parisian fashion industry. -
Alexander McQueen Appointed at Givenchy
At the same time that John Galliano was appointed to head designer at Dior, Alexander McQueen was appointed to head designer of womenswear at Givenchy. McQueen is one of the most celebrated designers of all time and, like Galliano, has brought a lot of success to Parisian fashion. -
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Couture Houses Gain Traction
Couture houses such as Dior and Chanel gained more and more traction in the early 2000s. They got a better hold of the ready-to-wear clothing industry and are also still able to profit off of their couture fashions. Their reputations hold strong and they keep Paris known as the Fashion Capital of the World. -
Fast Fashion Challenging Parisian Designers
Fashion houses which are so famous for their couture pieces are evermore challenged today by the increasing speed of the fashion industry. Consumers now expect new garments on racks every couple of weeks and couture designers cannot keep up with that demand when so much time and effort is put into their designs.