The best of Paris Haute Couture Week 2025

Paris just did what Paris does best; served drama, craftsmanship and couture that made our jaws drop. The Haute Couture Week 2025 was nothing short of a spectacle, where fashion houses turned emotion into embroidery and runways into works of art. From Iris van Herpen’s bioluminescent fantasy to Robert Wun’s bridal rebellion, designers reminded us that couture is pure theatre, stitched with dreams and centuries-old skill. Here’s everything we absolutely adored this season in the world’s most opulent fashion playground.

Iris van Herpen

Iris van Herpen’s Sympoiesis collection was nothing short of a marine marvel. Under cathedral-like lighting, sculptural gowns echoed aquatic lifeforms like jellyfish, coral, flowing sea currents with kinetic armatures and whisper-light fabrics. The star of the show? A living dress infused with 125 million bioluminescent algae, cultivated in nutrient-rich gel to glow softly in response to movement. Melding biotechnology with couture, van Herpen delivered an ecological and sensory spectacle unlike anything on the runway.

Robert Wun

Robert Wun’s 2025 couture collection translated the ritual of dressing into theatrical storytelling. Models emerged draped in dramatic, surreal silhouettes; from sequined duvet-like gowns to sculptural bridal figures supported by miniature mannequins. Staged at Théâtre du Châtelet, the show delved into the intimacy of getting ready for a big day and the blur of memories that follow. 

Balenciaga

In his swan song show, Demna bid farewell to Balenciaga with an impactful restraint. Blending sculptural tailoring and minimalist gowns, he honored Cristóbal Balenciaga’s legacy while injecting his own avant-garde spirit. The runway pulsed with unmistakable Demna signatures- subtle callbacks, cryptic motifs, and couture-level craftsmanship layered beneath an intentionally restrained façade. Celebrity appearances like Kim Kardashian, Naomi Campbell, Nicole Kidman underscored the cultural weight of his final couture statement.

Rahul Mishra

Rahul Mishra returned to the Paris stage with his couture Fall titled ‘Becoming Love’, a deeply personal ode to Indian craftsmanship and spiritual homage honouring the seven stages of love in sufism. Rich in opulent motifs, 3D-embroidered florals, pearls, and theatrical headdresses, the collection celebrated Sufism and artistic devotion. With Indian elegance threaded through every look and Lisa Haydon opening the show, it was a heartfelt fusion of tradition and haute couture storytelling.

Schiaparelli

Daniel Roseberry’s Schiaparelli debuted with a refined yet surreal fall collection, evoking 1930s elegance through sculpted tailoring, matador jackets, and subtle equine influences. The mood was solemn, rooted in emotional resonance amid global tensions; reinventing the house’s surrealist heritage with a modern, architectural echo. Macabre motifs gave way to timeless sophistication in a collection that balanced tribute and reinvention.

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