Celebrating Fashion in Motion: Palais Galliera’s Fashion on the Move #2 Exhibition

Costume de bain La Belle Jardinière, vers 1870 La Belle Jardinière Bathing costume, circa 1870 © Palais Galliera / Paris Musées

Anonyme, Tenue d’amazone (Titre de l’ensemble), 1893. Drap bleu lavande, application de passementeries noires, doublure sergé de soie gorge-de-pigeon, broderie. Palais Galliera, musée de la Mode de la Ville de Paris.

Éventail publicitaire Parfumeur Piver, Jeux olympiques, 1924 Parfumeur Piver Advertising fan, Olympic Games, 1924 © Palais Galliera / Paris Musées

Bikini de Louis Réard, fin des années 1940 Louis Réard bikini, end of 1940’s © Palais Galliera / Paris Musées

Tenue de tennis, corsage et jupe, 1900-1905 Tennis outfit, blouse and skirt, 1900-1905 © Palais Galliera / Paris Musées

Maronnaud – G. Talon, tenue d’équitation, veste et jodhpurs, 1946 Maronnaud – G. Talon, Riding outfit, jacket and jodhpurs, 1946 © Palais Galliera / Paris Musées

Combinaison Sirène de Lucien Lelong, par Egidio Scaioni, 1925-1929 Lucien Lelong Mermaid jumpsuit, photo by Egidio Scaioni, 1925-1929 © Egidio Scaioni, Palais Galliera / Paris Musées

Maillot de bain homme, années 1940 Man swimming trunks, 1940’s © Palais Galliera / Paris Musées

Roger Rouffiange, ensemble de plage de Schiaparelli, vers 1936-1937 Roger Rouffiange, Beach ensemble by Schiaparelli, 1936-1937 © Palais Galliera / Paris Musées

Hermès, casque d’automobiliste ou d’aviateur, vers 1925 Hermès, Motorist or aviator cap, circa 1925 © Palais Galliera / Paris Musées

Collet pour le golf, vers 1898 Golf capelet, circa 1898 © Palais Galliera / Paris Musées

Maillot de bain pour homme, vers 1965 Swimming trunks, circa 1965 © Palais Galliera / Paris Musées

Ensemble de plage Grès, haute couture PE, 1967 Grès beach outfit,haute couture SS, 1967 © Palais Galliera / Paris Musées

Maillot de bain Azzaro, prêt-à-porter, vers 1975 Azzaro swimming costume, ready-to-wear, circa 1975 © Palais Galliera / Paris Musées

Costume de bain, 1908 Bathing costume, 1908 © Palais Galliera / Paris Musées

Combinaison aviateur Claude Montana, prêt-à-porter AH, 1983-84 Claude Montana aviator jumpsuit, ready-to-wear AW, 1983-1984 © Palais Galliera / Paris Musées

Corsair, maillot de bain « Irrétrécissable », vers 1935 Corsair, Swimsuit, circa 1935 © Palais Galliera / Paris Musées

Combinaison, Alaïa, prêt-à-porter AH, 1992-93 Alaïa jumpsuit, ready-to-wear AW, 1992-93 © Palais Galliera / Paris Musées

Ensemble, Miu Miu, prêt-à-porter PE, 2017 Miu Miu outfit, ready-to-wear SS, 2017 © Palais Galliera / Paris Musées

Jeandron-Ferry, Paire de chaussures de plage, vers 1870 Jeandron-Ferry, Pair of beach shoes, circa 1870 © Palais Galliera / Paris Musée

Jacques Heim, manteau-guérite, été 1948 Jacques Heim,“Guérite” coat, Summer 1948 © Palais Galliera / Paris Musées

Nike x Sacai, Sneaker Vaporwaffle, 2020 © Palais Galliera / Paris Musées

Dear Shaded Viewers,

From April 26, 2024, to January 5, 2025, the Palais Galliera will be hosting its collections exhibition, Fashion on the Move #2. This exhibition aims to showcase a comprehensive history of fashion from the 18th century to the present day, with a particular focus on the theme of the body in motion, for both conservation and display purposes.

In light of Paris’s upcoming hosting of the Olympic and Paralympic Games in the summer of 2024, the Palais Galliera has carefully curated 300 items from its collections to explore the significance of specialized clothing in physical and sports activities, as well as the sociocultural factors that have influenced its evolution over time.

The exhibition juxtaposes garments designed for various sports and physical pursuits, such as horseback riding, tennis, golf, and cycling, with everyday attire worn in urban settings. By doing so, it offers insights into the gradual specialization of sportswear and its integration into mainstream fashion.

A dedicated section of the exhibition focuses on the history of sea bathing and swimming, highlighting the democratization of sports during the late 19th century. Visitors will have the opportunity to explore the Palais Galliera’s extensive collection of bathing suits, swimwear, beach attire, and related accessories, shedding light on shifting notions of modesty, beauty, and the evolving relationship between the body and public exposure.

Fashion on the Move #2 features notable loans from institutions such as the Musée National du Sport (Nice), the Fondation Azzedine Alaïa, the Bibliothèque Forney (Paris), the Bibliothèque Historique de la Ville de Paris, the Musée Carnavalet – Histoire de Paris, Patrimoine de CHANEL, the Émile Hermès collection, and Maison Yohji Yamamoto. These contributions provide additional context to the Palais Galliera’s collection, offering perspectives on attitudes towards physical activity and sports across different periods and contexts, whether as leisure pursuits or competitive endeavors.