Enjoy Alternative Events & Attractions During Paris Fashion Week

18 September 2017

The Road Less Travelled: Wining, Dining and Socialising

As Fashion Week arrives in Paris, so too do the hordes of fashionistas, party people and paparazzi, as a sense of fashion fuelled merriment sweeps over the city. But while the occasion is itself an extremely exclusive affair, a wealth of spin-off joie de vivre awaits as you wine, dine, and party in the fashion capital of the world. Let us show you the road less travelled with our exclusive guide to an Alternative Paris Fashion Week.

Alternative Paris Fashion Week Events

Between 30th September and 1st October, you will also be able to acquaint yourself with an altogether alternative to Paris Fashion Week; when the fifth edition of Pulp Fashion Week arrives in the Salons Vianey. The brainchild of Blanche Kazi, Pulp was created to celebrate women of all shapes and sizes, away from the elitist world of fashion - and with every year the event has significantly gained in popularity! So this year, Pulp Fashion Week is guaranteed to be bigger and better than ever before, as fashion shows, DJ sets, musical performances, and the prestigious Pulp Awards fill the three days. 

Experience the weekly fashion show at legendary department store Galeries Lafayette! Held on the fourth floor of the historic Haussmannian building at 3:00pm every Friday (29th September during PFW). While it may be a far removal from the excessive exhibitions of Karl Lagerfeld, Galeries Lafayette’s fashion shows are always a winner with audiences - where no fewer than six professional models will showcase current collections by world renowned designers; which you will have the option to purchase after, should any designs catch your eye. What’s more, the event is free! But you must register your place prior to the event, if you wish to attend. 

For your cultural fix of fashion, an exhibition dedicated to master couturier Christian Dior will be on display at Musée des Arts Décoratifs, commemorating the 70th anniversary of the fashion house. Of course (as ever), Dior will be unveiling their latest collection at Paris Fashion Week; but for those not fortunate enough to be in attendance, this is the perfect opportunity to familiarise yourself with some of the designers most iconic collections. 

Legendary Vogue photographer Irving Penn, is another to be remembered throughout the course of Fashion Week - where some of his most memorable snaps will be showcased in the Grand Palais. See here for a more detailed guide to the exhibition.

Moving beyond the realm of fashion, one of the twentieth centuries best loved artists is the subject of his own retrospective at the Pompidou Centre - where you can acquaint yourself with the life works of David Hockney! See here for a more in-depth look at one of the most exciting Paris exhibitions of the year.

Dining During Paris Fashion Week

As Paris prepares to go haute couture crazy, it’s only right you should indulge your senses further with a spot of haute cuisine. And it just so happens, the fashion capital of the world is also something of a dab hand when it comes to food. 

Leading the way is chef extraordinaire Pierre Gagnaire, and his eponymous flagship restaurant on Rue Balzac - which is conveniently situated a mere three minute stroll (a minute for every Michelin star possessed by Gagnaire) from Amarante Champs-Elysées. Gagnaire has long been lauded for his inventiveness, and it would be fair to say that if his dishes were couture creations, they wouldn’t look out of place on the revered runways of Paris. So! Be sure not to miss this exhibition of French fusion cuisine, courtesy of the founding father himself. The carefully curated vinos which accompany the various courses are also a must.

Just a few doors down from Gagnaire, you can find Penati al Baretto; and while Italian heavyweights are notably absent from Paris Fashion Week, the country’s cuisine is thankfully not - with Alberico Penati proudly flying the flag for the Apennine Peninsula, alongside his Michelin star. Once inside, the smells of Italy - backed up further by the colourful, classical creations of Penati, and the elegant wood adorned interiors - will feel like you’ve just stumbled into a traditional Tuscan ristorante.

Parisian Shopping, Shopping & Shopping

After scouring the runways for the latest looks, and admiring/criticising Fashion Week’s (mostly) well-dressed visitors, it is only right you do as the fashionistas do and shop! Which is made incredibly easy by the bounty of boutiques and flagship fashion houses which reside within Paris. 

Leading the way for a day of indulging in retail therapy, are the neighbouring boulevards of the Champs-Elysées and Rue Montaigne - where luxury labels like Chanel, Christian Dior, Saint Laurent and Louis Vuitton can all be found in their opulently appointed dwellings. Recent years have also seen a rise in the number of high-street fashion houses to Paris’ Golden Triangle. So for those looking for a spot of spending - without the premium price tags - pay a visit to the likes of Zara, Levi’s, and the quirky smattering of independent boutiques.

If just a quirky smattering of independent boutiques isn’t enough to satisfy your fashion thirst, hop on the metro towards one of the city’s trendiest districts - Le Marais. Here, you’ll find the pacesetters within Paris’ street-style scene, as they hunt for vintage treasures in the endless array of eccentric standalone shops. Le Marais is also the place to go if you fancy your chances of being snapped in the street-style chronicles, with photographers often on the prowl for Fashion Week’s best dressed visitors. 

Wining During Paris Fashion Week     

Part and parcel of being in Paris for Fashion Week is experiencing the capital’s eclectic nightlife; and a stay in the elegant 8th arrondissement will acquaint you with no end of stylish bars and nightclubs, to drink and dance the night away.

Enjoy vodka cocktails in Raspoutine, alongside chic candlelit interiors, incognito celebrities and a raunchy Russian ambiance. All just a two minute walk away from Amarante Champs-Elysées! 

For those who like their nightlife in the accompaniment of Eiffel Tower backdrops, look no further than Maison Blanche, nestled on the rooftop of the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées - only a ten minute walk from ACE. Here, it’s all about Saturday nights, when their famous Club Montaigne plays host to international DJs and Paris’ chicest party people. But a spot of more relaxed wining and dining can also be enjoyed throughout the week, as you take in picturesque panoramas of Paris with a fine wine or delicious cocktail in hand.

Le Six Seven, a mere eight minute walk from Amarante Champs Elysees, has established itself as one of the spots to duck out from the crowd in the city. Expect good vibes, great people, and a dynamic line-up of music seven days a week on the always bustling, never overcrowded dancefloor. Will you be among them this year?