Young brands Weinsanto, CFCL and Vaquera launch Paris Womenswear Fashion Week today, with the hotly anticipated debuts of new designers Givenchy, Dries Van Noten and Tom Ford to follow later.

The first day, dedicated to the new guard, will begin with the traditional runway show of the graduates of the French Fashion Institute.

This will be followed by a "completely out of the box" show by French designer Victor Vainsanto, followed by a presentation by Japanese brand CFCL (Clothing For Contemporary Life). The day will be closed by New York brand Vaquera, AFP reports.

For nine days, more than 100 fashion houses will present their collections for autumn-winter 2025-2026.

Among the most anticipated are Sarah Burton's debut at Givenchy, Julian Klausner's first collection for Dries Van Noten and Haider Ackermann's first show at Tom Ford on Wednesday.

Tom Ford, a New York Fashion Week staple, will make his first appearance in Paris. 

Alaia, the famed Parisian fashion house owned by Swiss luxury giant Richemont, will also make its official Fashion Week debut.

Luxury brands Louis Vuitton, Saint Laurent, Balenciaga and Dior will present the most budget shows, and the biggest celebrities and influencers will be vying for front row seats.

Swedish designer Ellen Hodakova Larsson, last year's winner of the prestigious LVMH award, will make her debut, as will new French designer Alain Paul.

"Paris is one of the few fashion weeks that brings together a mix of young designers, big institutional brands and established designers," said Alix Morabito, head of womenswear at French department store Galeries Lafayette.

Dior's March 4 show could be head designer Maria Grazia Chiuri's last, according to persistent rumors and press reports that she is on her way out. 

Northern Irish stylist Jonathan Anderson, who currently heads Spanish brand Loewe, has been tipped as her potential replacement.

Chanel will present its latest collection on the last day of the show on March 11. It has been prepared by a creative studio rather than recently appointed artistic director Mathieu Blasi, who will present his first collection in September. | BGNES