A Day Trip to Paris

Paris has long been considered the home of fashion, hosting one of the biggest fashion weeks in the world and providing a backdrop for exquisitely styled women who dress themselves in the most elegant designs imaginable. It was once the stomping ground of Gabrielle Chanel, Elsa Schiaparelli, Paul Poiret and later Christian Dior, all of whom played considerable roles in changing the face of modern fashion and now it is a fashion Mecca once again, with the world flocking to the city for two major fashion exhibitions.

It is not often that one city gets two blockbuster exhibitions opening at the same time, but when it happens, it is something magical. Helmut Newton's first retrospective exhibition goes head to head with the much anticipated Louis Vuitton-Marc Jacobs exhibition, both of which are a must see for anyone with a keen interest in fashion.

Helmut Newton

The Helmut Newton exhibition is the first retrospective exhibition to be held in France since his death in 2004. Over 200 photographs are exhibited at the Grand Palais, showcasing a provocative display of models all of which graced the pages of high class fashion publications across the globe. His most memorable photographs were the ones published in French Vogue portraying models in classical, romantic settings, nude and embodying postures typically taken on by men. The focus of the exhibition is not just on women, it also explores the secret fields of his work that can sometimes verge on the dark and unexpected. Curated by his wife, June Newton, the exhibition reveals a lifetime through photographs punctuated with quotations from Helmut Newton himself.

Louis Vuitton Exhibition

Venture East and you will find yourself immersed in a completely different world of fashion. Gone is the controversial portrayal of women and the shocking, glamorous imagery and in it's place grandeur and luxury, reign over the fashion world, from the Les Arts Décoratifs where the exhibition takes place. Louis Vuitton who founded the luggage label in 1854 and Marc Jacobs who took over in 1997, superficially have very little in common but the exhibition, curated by Pamela Golbin, marks them both as innovators and  the most influential industry leaders of their time. The exhibition delves into the lives of both men, separately as well as together, allowing visitors to see Jacob's most famous designs for Louis Vuitton in addition to a selection of Vuitton's iconic trunks.

If these two exhibitions don't prove to be enough of a draw, then why not spend the day seeing the sights of Paris?! Have breakfast at Les Deux Magots before climbing to the top of the Eiffel Tower and then end the day shopping along the world famous Champs Elysees before catching the last Eurostar headed to London.

To see more about the Helmut Newton Exhibition, click here
To see more about the Marc Jacobs-Louis Vuitton Exhibition, click here