A Guide To Must-see Fashion From 'Louvre Couture At The Museum Of Fine Arts...

There is no wrong way to experience ⁘Louvre Couture at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston,⁘ though there is a recommended route. Why? Perhaps it's best to start on the right foot - all puns intended.

And, it's the route endorsed by MFAH Director and Margaret Alkek Williams Chair Gary Tinterow and musée du Louvre Department of Decorative Arts Director Olivier Gabet: top and ground floors of the Beck Building first, followed by level 2 of the Nancy and Rich Kinder Building. A handy little map helps visitors navigate the journey.

The Louvre Museum's inaugural fashion exhibition, ⁘Louvre Couture,⁘ won over international audiences in Paris earlier this year. Two of the show's biggest fans include Tinterow and MFAH curator Christine Gervais, who flew to the City of Light last March to see it in person. They returned spellbound and with a grand idea.

⁘Louvre Couture at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston⁘ opens today, Nov. 19, with a carefully edited adaptation of its French predecessor. The original featured more than 100 looks. Houston's rendition counts 36 outfits and accessories from 23 fashion houses, presented alongside works from MFAH's collection. Several sartorial pieces are unique to Houston and were not previously shown in Paris.

Perhaps the most magical and surprising aspects of the show are the various, unexpected connections to Houston and Texas. Like the Schiaparelli haute couture dress designed by Plano native Daniel Rosenberry worn by Beyoncé.

Gabet points out that the biggest difference between ⁘Louvre Couture⁘ in Paris versus Houston is that the former is more narrow, in terms of physical space, and wider, in terms of breadth of selection.