Paris Fashion Week might dominate the headlines twice a year, but true style insiders know the city’s fashion calendar is studded with other dates that matter just as much. From clandestine sample sales and new collection unveilings to storied sales and boutique-only happenings, the rhythm of Parisian fashion beats quietly, stylishly, all year long.
Here’s your real-deal fashion calendar — when the insiders shop, the collectors strike, and the city unveils its next sartorial secrets.
Mid-January: Winter Private Sales & Pre-Collections
While official sales begin in early January, insiders know that multi-brand boutiques and luxury houses often begin discreet private sales in mid-January, especially for regulars. It’s also when pre-fall collections quietly land in stores — less hyped, more wearable.
– Where to look: Le Bon Marché’s hidden racks, Montaigne boutiques, and Rue Saint-Honoré flagships.
End of February – Early March: Designer Sample Sales
The period just before Paris Fashion Week is prime time for sample sales, when brands clear space for the new season. Look for low-key events in gallery-like showrooms or appointment-only lofts.
– Who to watch: Isabel Marant, Chloé, Courrèges, and indie darlings like Coperni or Lemaire.
– Tip: Join mailing lists or follow private Instagram accounts like @parisprivatesale or @ventepriveemode.
May: Les Journées Particulières
Held every two years by LVMH, this event opens the doors to the hidden ateliers and historic maisons behind the luxury veil. From embroidery workshops to fragrance labs, it’s fashion’s most poetic peek behind the curtain.
– Not to miss: Dior’s haute couture ateliers, Louis Vuitton’s Asnières home, and Guerlain’s original lab.
June: Men’s Fashion Week + Street Style Peak
While less splashy than its womenswear counterpart, Men’s Fashion Week in Paris is where avant-garde cool and commercial polish collide. The street style around Palais de Tokyo, the Marais, and Pigalle? Peak experimental chic.
– What to scout: Smaller shows, gender-fluid brands, concept stores dropping collabs.
Mid-July: Haute Couture Week + Fall Arrivals
Haute Couture Week brings the city’s most fantastical, hand-sewn dreams to life — but it also coincides with the arrival of fall/winter collections in boutiques. The timing is poetic: fantasy on the runways, future staples in store.
– Secret bonus: July is when many brands release limited-edition accessory lines.
September: Back-to-Style Season
Forget “back to school.” In Paris, it’s la rentrée, and it comes with a city-wide wardrobe reset. Boutiques are freshly stocked, vintage stores bring out prime inventory, and Parisians plan their winter looks.
– Where to be: Le Marais, Rue Etienne Marcel, and Palais Royal. Also: concept stores like The Broken Arm and Nous.
Late October: Press Days + Indie Launches
While the public doesn’t attend Press Days, this period (mid-late October) is when brands preview spring/summer lines to stylists, editors, and buyers. Often, small designers soft-launch new collections quietly, and insiders buy before hype hits.
– Where to look: Pop-ups in the 3e, sneak-peeks at Merci or The Frankie Shop.
December: Holiday Capsules & Collector Pieces
Luxury houses drop their limited-edition holiday collections, and jewel-box boutiques unveil collector items, partywear capsules, and art-fashion hybrids. This is when true fashion objects emerge—less trend, more treasure.
– Where to scout: Colette’s spiritual successors, Palais Royal boutiques, and online Parisian archives like ReSee.
Final Stitch from The Socialites:
Fashion in Paris is not an event — it’s a ritual, a rhythm, a year-long unfolding. If you know where to look, the city is always revealing its next silhouette, secret, or sale. Keep your eyes open. Keep your wardrobe ready.
—The Socialites