Balenciaga to open new store during men's fashion week in Paris

Amid a growing trend of 'women's brands' expanding into men's wear - Rodarte, Roland Mouret, and Matthew Williamson are just a few recent examples - French avantgarde brand Balenciaga is launching its first store exclusively for men on June 24.

The move follows a quiet expansion of the label's menswear range, with dedicated corners opening in department stores including Harvey Nichols in London and Seibu Shibuya in Tokyo.

This first stand-alone store will be located at 5, rue de Varenne on the Paris Left Bank, not far from Ralph Lauren's newly opened flagship.

Its launch party will undoubtedly be one of the biggest magnets during Paris fashion week, which kicks off June 23. Here is a complete schedule of the event (sans Balenciaga, which only shows by appointment):

Wednesday, June 23
18.00 Thibaud Etcheberry
19.00 Francisco van Benthum
20.00 Rad Hourani

Thursday, June 24
09.30 Viktor & Rolf Monsieur
10.30 Alexis Mabille
11.30 Issey Miyake
12.30 Rick Owens
13.30 Juun J.
14.30 Louis Vuitton
16.00 Gaspard Yurkievich
17.00 Jean Paul Gaultier
18.00 Smalto
19.00 Dries van Noten
20.00 Yohji Yamamoto
21.00 Henrik Vibskov

Friday, June 25
10.00 Junya Watanabe Man
11.00 GUSTAVOLINS
12.00 Julius
13.00 Yves Saint Laurent
14.00 Walter van Beirendonck
15.00 Kris van Assche
16.00 Comme des Garçons Homme Plus
17.00 Cerruti
18.00 Givenchy
19.00 Romain Kremer
20.30 John Galliano

Saturday, June 26
10.00 Boris Bidjan Saberi
11.00 Kenzo
12.00 MIHARAYASUHIRO
13.00 Petar Petrov
14.00 Tillmann Lauterbach
15.00 Dior Homme
16.30 Tim Hamilton
17.30 Ann Demeulemeester
18.30 Damir Doma
20.00 Hermès
21.00 Raf Simons

Sunday, June 27
10.00 Bill Tornade
11.00 Lanvin
12.00 WOOYOUNGMI
13.00 Songzio
14.00 Agnès B.
15.00 Rynshu
16.00 Paul Smith
17.00 Dunhill
18.00 Thom Browne
19.00 Qasimi Homme

For more information, visit the French fashion authority, the Féderation Française de la Couture's website at http://modeaparis.com.