A new exhibit at The Shed in Manhattan explores the story of how French luxury goods and their cultural cachet and craftsmanship have shaped a cultural exchange between the U.S. and France over the past 250 years.
An advertisement from 1935 and a midnight-blue perfume bottle for Jacques Guerlain's Shalimar fragrance pictured on are display as part of the Comite Colbert"Hidden Treasures" exhibit at The Shed on Tuesday, May 26, 2026, in New York.
A pink wool Givenchy coat worn by former US first lady Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis is pictured on display as part of the Comite Colbert"Hidden Treasures" exhibit at The Shed on Tuesday, May 26, 2026, in New York. A Boucheron necklace, a replica of one worn by wealthy Irish American silver mine owners, is pictured on display at the Comite Colbert"Hidden Treasures" exhibit at The Shed on Tuesday, May 26, 2026, in New York.
A violet evening gown designed by Cristobal Balenciaga as worn by American socialite Mona von Bismarck is pictured on display as part of the Comite Colbert"Hidden Treasures" exhibit at The Shed on Tuesday, May 26, 2026, in New York. A Chanel coat and midi skirt inspired by the poster for the 1931 film"Tonight or Never" is pictured on display as part of the Comite Colbert"Hidden Treasures" exhibit at The Shed on Tuesday, May 26, 2026, in New York.
– At the pinnacle of the American cultural pyramid, one particular inspiration has echoed across the centuries through friendship and tension alike: France.
The American love affair with French luxury goods and their cultural cachet and craftsmanship has spanned the younger country's history, and a new exhibit explores the story of how these treasures shaped a cultural exchange that marks 250 years of Franco-American relations. Among the standouts in the exhibit’s cabinet of curiosities: the Givenchy coat worn by former first lady Jacqueline Kennedy; a Cartier lunar module replica from; and a medal commissioned by Benjamin Franklin at the “Hidden Treasures” exhibit at The Shed in Manhattan.
The organizers behind the exhibit, Comité Colbert, represent the top French luxury “maisons,” or houses — including fashion, perfume, jewelry, hospitality and spirits. They asked 65 luxury maisons and cultural institutions to excavate archives and unearth pieces that embodied the Franco-American bond. The exhibit, which runs through the end of May, comes at a time when American consumers account for a major share in the demand for French luxury goods.
Those luxury houses are taking notice — and expanding in the United States.
“American people love French elegance — the ‘je ne sais quoi’ of French luxury,” said Bénédicte Épinay, president and CEO of Comité Colbert. “It’s a deep link starting at the 18th century and still alive. ”Just as Comité Colbert is honoring France’s bond with the U.S., the U.S. is celebrating its own 250 milestone — its“The U.S. is a relatively young country,” said James Burroughs, professor of commerce at the University of Virginia’s McIntire School of Commerce.
“For much of our existence, we were a relatively modest economy. We were overshadowed by dominant cultures like France. ” The link between the two countries can be seen in perhaps the most renowned American symbol, the Statue of Liberty, a gift from France dedicated in 1886. But even before that — and even before French historian Alexis de Tocqueville famously wrote his epic work about U.S. democracy in the 1830s — Americans turned to France as arbiters of taste.
To commemorate France’s support during the Revolutionary War, one of America’s Founding Fathers, Benjamin Franklin, turned to French artists and the Paris mint to commission the Libertas Americana medal in 1782. Exhibit attendees can get an up-close look at the medal's design. Each item on display was presented in shipping containers to symbolize the trans-Atlantic voyage between both countries.
In an effort to market French luxury goods to U.S. audiences, one French Champagne company’s unique approach is on display at the exhibition. An ad from Champagne giant Veuve Clicquot from 1964 shows how the company paired its Champagne with hamburgers to appeal to American audiences and to break away from the image of saving a glass of Champagne for special occasions.
Fashion, unsurprisingly, has been front and centerGivenchy offered Kennedy Onassis’s pink, brushed-cashmere wool coat from her 1961 visit to France for the exhibit. Madonna’s revealing pinstriped Jean Paul Gaultier dress from his 1992 runway show to benefit AIDS research is also on display. French luxury houses are catering to their American audiences by bringing their designs to the United States as well.
The French fashion maisons from Dior, Louis Vuitton and“European luxury goods companies are in the process of getting deeper into the USA,” Luca Solca, luxury goods senior analyst at Bernstein, said in an email.
“In the past, only the two coasts and Las Vegas had luxury stores. American consumers are step by step warming up to European luxury. In a similar vein to what Chinese consumers did many years ago. ” These brands are not only holding extravagant runway shows in the U.S. but are expanding their businesses across the U.S. Hermès opened a new location in Nashville last year.
“What the French have done really well ... in the last 15 years, is that they have opened up their range of products to create offers that are very relevant to the mass American consumer,” said Thomaï Serdari, New York University marketing professor and director of the luxury and retail MBA. French jewelry brand Boucheron featured a dramatic diamond Belle Époque style necklace at the exhibit replicated after the necklace the brand sold to Irish-American couple Marie-Louise Mackay and her husband, John William Mackay in 1899.
The couple, who amassed their fortune through silver mines, commissioned 50 pieces from the house. Looking to capture a new generation of collectors, the brand now has three U.S. stores under its umbrella since opening on Madison Avenue in 2024. Hélène Poulit-Duquesne, Boucheron's CEO and incoming president of the Comité Colbert, told The Associated Press that the brand has plans to open a fourth store in the United States before the end of the year.
After increased growth from spending during the pandemic, the luxury sector is now grappling with tariffs from the Trump administration and economic uncertainty. The European Commission agreed to a deal withFor the luxury houses, Épinay said, tariffs are in the past.
“Politics and economics, it’s up and down," she said. "We’re here to celebrate this strong cultural link between us. ” Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Say goodbye to boring walls because wallpaper is making a major comeback.
✨🏡Two men charged after food truck robbery spree ends in shootingTow truck driver fatally shot during repossession in Brentwood, JSO saysJacksonville City Council rejects resolution aimed to keep future jail out of redlined neighborhoodsJaguars WR Parker Washington says he wants to just "be the best Parker I can be"Jakobi Meyers in slo-mo: poetry in motion 😮💨Baldwin students create ‘Mulvey Files,' questions possible missed signs before teacher’s arrestWhat's the solution for traffic concerns on Argyle Forest Boulevard? Previous video
French Luxury Goods Franco-American Bond Comité Colbert The Shed Manhattan Jacqueline Kennedy Cartier Benjamin Franklin Statue Of Liberty Veuve Clicquot Champagne Givenchy Jean Paul Gaultier Madonna Fashion History Cultural Exchange
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Nordstrom Half‑Yearly Sale: Top Deals Across Women's Fashion, Home Goods, and BeautyExplore Nordstrom's Half‑Yearly Sale highlights, featuring discounted women's apparel, handbags, bedding, kitchen tools, and beauty products. Find the best bargains and upgrade your wardrobe, home, and cosmetics with up to 50% off on top‑quality items.
Read more »
A New Exhibit Showcases French Luxury—and It Has an Original Kelly BagThe Comité Colbert is celebrating over two centuries’ worth of Franco-American collaboration across fashion, jewelry, and more
Read more »
Pregnancy Rarely Gets Fashion’s Runway Treatment—Chanel Just Changed ThatThe pillar of French luxury is suddenly hosting some of fashion's most inclusive shows.
Read more »
As the United States turns 250, Americans still can't get enough of French luxuryNEW YORK (AP) — At the pinnacle of the American cultural pyramid, one particular inspiration has echoed across the centuries through friendship and tension
Read more »