Summer embroideries and designer boutiques: a Haute Couture summer in Saint-Germain-des-Prés

From our elegant residence nestled in the heart of Saint-Germain-des-Prés, Paris opens the doors to its dream ateliers, luminous backstage worlds, and secret addresses, for an unforgettable journey into the universe of fashion.

When Roland-Garros draws its curtain, the capital gives way to Fashion Week and Haute Couture (July 7–10, 2025), where Dior, Chanel, Jean Paul Gaultier, and Valentino make stars and lace dance. The alleys of Saint-Germain are draped in silk, shop windows become jewel cases, and conversations whisper designer secrets.

From Hôtel de Lille, begin your journey at the Petit Palais, which is hosting the exhibition "Worth. Inventing Haute Couture." A true pioneer, Charles Frederick Worth was much more than a couturier — he was the first to envision fashion as a grand spectacle, a complete art form. In this sumptuous setting of columns and mosaics, over 400 works — gowns, accessories, jewelry, sketches, posters — reveal his genius. You’ll discover his majestic dresses adorned with precious embroidery and delicate pearls, his draping inspired by antique togas, and his revolutionary silhouettes that, as early as the Second Empire, established Paris as the capital of fashion. Each room immerses you in a world of velvet and lace, evoking Empress Eugénie’s grand balls and the lavish dinners of the Roaring Twenties. A journey into the heart of luxury, audacity, and refinement.

Then head to the Palais Galliera, where Rick Owens invites you to his "Temple of Love." In this couture sanctuary, fashion becomes a manifesto: black silhouettes with architectural lines, rebellious volumes, and reimagined materials create a universe both gothic and celestial. Over 100 iconic looks, personal archives, videos, and original installations — alongside works by Gustave Moreau, Joseph Beuys, and Steven Parrino — make up this exhibition. Each dress is a declaration of freedom, each seam an ode to individuality. The journey begins at the museum’s façade and gardens, transformed into an inspiring woodland where the designer’s work converses with the park’s statues.

Finally, step into the Musée des Arts Décoratifs, where the exhibition dedicated to Paul Poiret opens the doors to a festive, flamboyant Paris. His liberating designs, which abolished the corset’s constraints, made way for fluid drapes, radiant colors, and fashion that breathes freedom. Eastern fragrances, opulent parties, artistic collaborations with Raoul Dufy, and the avant-garde of the Ballets Russes shape a world where fashion becomes a way of life — a continuous celebration.

But Paris is also an open-air art of living. After each exhibition, treat yourself to a cocktail or dinner along our curated path of insiders and epicureans.

Just steps from the hotel, Maison Cravan welcomes you in an arty ambiance for a creative cocktail in one of its three bars, nestled inside a 17th-century historic hôtel particulier in Saint-Germain-des-Prés.

Dine under the stars at La Société, on Place Saint-Germain des Prés, where the Parisian art de vivre plays out like a nightly performance.

Don’t miss designers’ favorite spots: an elegant lunch at La Petite Chaise, the oldest inn in Paris; a refined dinner at Café des Ministères, near Les Invalides — a haunt for artists and fashion enthusiasts; or a drink at Gainsbarre, the cocktail bar paying tribute to the neighborhood’s most iconic poet.

And to extend the magic, Hôtel de Lille offers its signature couture picnic: sweet treats, delicate finger food, and sparkling champagne — the perfect way to savor Paris in the Jardin du Luxembourg or along the banks of the Seine.

At Hôtel de Lille, every stay is a silk thread woven in the light of Paris.

Book your summer and live haute couture as a true art of living.

Colombe de la Taille