When I planned our summer adventure, La Galerie Dior in Paris was high on my list. I had heard wonderful things about it, and it did not disappoint. Raun was not nearly as excited about this visit as I was. Since it was on my birthday wish list, he happily came along. That changed once we started walking through the galleries.

By the time we reached the first few rooms, he looked at me and said, “This is awesome.” I had to agree.

Christian Dior opened his fashion house at 30 Avenue Montaigne in 1946. The following year, he presented his first collection there. That collection introduced the silhouettes that became known as the “New Look.” It helped reshape women’s fashion after World War II.

La Galerie Dior celebrates Christian Dior and the designers who followed him. The exhibits connect the early years of Dior with the fashion house we know today. Jonathan Anderson now leads Dior’s creative direction. The museum shows how the fashion house has continued to evolve through the years.

The museum takes you through room after room of fashion, color, sketches, accessories, photographs, and haute couture designs. Every room feels different from the one before it. The lighting and backdrops added so much to the experience. Some rooms felt soft and elegant, while others were bold and colorful.

We saw original sketches, archival photographs, accessories, and beautiful evening gowns. The exhibits also featured designs from Christian Dior and the creative directors who followed him. The amount of detail throughout the museum impressed both of us.

One of the most memorable parts was the dramatic central staircase. Hundreds of miniature Dior creations line the display around it. Dresses, hats, shoes, handbags, and other accessories appear in blocks of color.

Seeing all those colors travel up the staircase was breathtaking. Of course, I had to stop for a photo on the stairs. This was one of those places where our pictures could never fully capture what we were seeing. The colors, lighting, and tiny details were amazing in person.

I already knew I would enjoy La Galerie Dior. What surprised me was how much Raun enjoyed it. He would not normally put a fashion museum on his list. Once we started exploring, he became just as interested as I was.

We both admired the work that went into creating the exhibits. The museum felt like a mix of fashion, art, history, and design. That is what made it so interesting.

La Galerie Dior uses timed entry, so I recommend reserving your tickets online before your trip. Popular times can fill quickly during busy travel periods. Some tickets may still be available onsite, but you could face a wait.

Arrive on time for your entry and give yourself time to enjoy the exhibits without rushing. There is a lot to see, and many details deserve a closer look.

Fashion lovers will probably have this museum high on their list. Art and design lovers will also find plenty to appreciate. I would not limit it to fashion fans, though. Raun proved that point for me.

The dramatic rooms, lighting, history, artwork, and staircase make the museum interesting even if fashion is not your passion.

La Galerie Dior became one of the highlights of our week in Paris. I expected beautiful fashion, but the museum gave us much more than that. We experienced fashion, history, art, color, and incredible design all under one roof.

I also loved watching Raun go from unsure about the visit to completely impressed. If La Galerie Dior is on your Paris list, I would make time for it. Even if fashion is not your thing, you may leave surprised.

Next in Our European Summer Adventure, we are sharing another Paris museum that deserves more attention: Musée Jacquemart-André.

Before we move on, if you missed our peaceful day at Luxembourg Garden, you can read Our European Summer Adventure: A Day at Luxembourg Garden HERE.