Culture Watch: What to See and Where to Go in September

Staged in conjunction with the 100th anniversary of the International Exhibition of Modern Decorative and Industrial Arts, Louis Vuitton revisits the Art Deco movement with an all-new exhibition in Paris. “Louis Vuitton Art Deco” revisits the house’s pivotal involvement in the transformative aesthetic through an eight-room experience, highlighting heritage, travel, and core tenets of the now-antique style. The exhibition will be on view and open to the public starting September 26 at 6 Quai de la Mégisserie.

In honor of Giorgio Armani’s 50th anniversary, the Pinacoteca di Brera, located in the late designer’s own neighborhood, is hosting a dedicated exhibition to his lasting legacy. Iconic displays, featuring everything from the label’s signature suits to complex embroideries, are nestled among the museum’s historic works, which span from the Middle Ages to the 19th century. The solo show is on view now through Jan. 11, 2026.

Demna’s first Gucci collection is officially here—and it landed in Milan with a special twist. Though the designer will make his solo runway debut during the fall/winter 2026 season, the house forewent a show in favor of a cinematic presentation. A star-studded lineup of guests—including Gwyneth Paltrow and Lila Moss—arrived at the Milan premiere dressed in the new pieces. A short film titled The Tiger, directed by Spike Jonze and Halina Reijn and starring Demi Moore, Alex Consani, Kendall Jenner, Keke Palmer, Edward Norton, Elliot Page, and more, puts Demna’s full cast of Gucci characters on display, setting the tone for a new era.

JW Anderson is ushering in a new era, one defined by slow design and intentionally selected fine objects. In keeping with that ethos, the designer just celebrated the reopening of his Soho boutique in London with a special collaboration: Wedgwood, JWA, and the estate of the beloved British potter Lucie Rie have teamed up to release a limited-edition collection of Rie’s previously unproduced designs. The partnership is the first of its kind for the fashion designer, although he intends to build upon his brand’s curated object offerings.

Opening on September 17 in New York, London, and Shanghai, Apple’s new exhibition, “Joy in 3 Parts,” showcases original iPhone photography by Inez and Vinoodh, Mickalene Thomas, and Trunk Xu. For the project, Apple gave each artist early access to the new iPhone 17, allowing them to explore and highlight the camera’s artistic capabilities. The exhibition will be open to the public in New York and Shanghai, while the London showing is invite-only.

Beginning in 2027, Chanel will undertake renovations on all four sites of the Paris Opera: Palais Garnier, Opéra Bastille, the Dance School in Nanterre, and the Ateliers Berthier. The program is part of the house’s longstanding commitment to the Parisian arts, which began with its founder Gabrielle Chanel.

Happy 80th, Balmain! The French luxury brand celebrated its birthday with an exhibition at Printemps in New York City. The installation touches on all major aspects of the house’s DNA, including Monsieur Pierre Balmain’s inaugural 1945 collection, the signature logo first introduced in 1970, and the brand’s long history of dressing pop culture icons. The event was commemorated on September 4 with a cocktail party inside the FiDi department store.

From the critically acclaimed director of Beau Travail, Claire Denis, comes her newest project, The Fence. Co-produced with Anthony Vaccarello and Saint Laurent Productions, the film examines a single night following a death on the construction site of a public works project in West Africa. The Fence is selected for the main slate of the 2025 New York Film Festival, which takes place from September 26 to October 16.

Initially teased at Milan Design Week earlier this year, The Color of Copper (TCOC) rug series by Kwangho Lee is on full display at Collectible NYC 2025 from September 4 to September 7. The handmade collection is on view as a part of cc-tapis, a Milan-based contemporary rug maker and showroom.