Opening on March 28th, the V&A will unveil the UK’s first-ever exhibition dedicated to Maison Schiaparelli.
Titled Schiaparelli: Fashion Becomes Art, the show spans a century, beginning in the 1920s and tracing the brand’s establishment and rise to international acclaim. Highlighting founder Elsa Schiaparelli as a pioneering innovator across Paris, London, and New York, the exhibition celebrates female creativity while shining a spotlight on the brand’s London presence.
The exhibition features over 400 objects, including 100 ensembles and 50 artworks, as well as accessories, jewellery, paintings, photographs, furniture, perfumes, and archival materials. Key highlights include the 1938 Skeleton Dress, the only known surviving example and part of the V&A’s permanent collection, and the 1938 Tears Dress, alongside the iconic upside-down shoe hat, conceived in collaboration with Salvador Dalí.
“Schiaparelli: Fashion Becomes Art celebrates one of the most ingenious and daring designers in fashion history. The V&A holds one of the largest and most important fashion collections in the world, and the foremost collection of Schiaparelli garments in Britain. Schiaparelli’s collaboration with artists and the world of performance makes the Maison and its founder an ideal subject for a spectacular exhibition at the V&A,” says Tristram Hunt, Director of the V&A.
The exhibition is divided into four chapters, allowing for a clear and engaging visitor experience. Chapter one introduces Elsa Schiaparelli and her rapid rise to prominence during the 1920s and 30s, featuring some of her earliest designs, such as the trompe l’œil bow-knot sweater from 1927. The following section explores Elsa’s deep relationship with Paris during this era, including collaborations with surrealist painters, sculptors, and writers. Pieces such as the evening coat created with Jean Cocteau and Dalí’s Lobster Telephone appear alongside collaborations with Alberto Giacometti, Leonor Fini, Meret Oppenheim, and others.
Later sections highlight Schiaparelli’s masterful self-promotion techniques—her signature habit of wearing her own designs to public events—cementing her position in the French haute couture hierarchy. Alongside her growing acclaim, visitors follow the story of her global expansion. The fourth and final chapter celebrates Schiaparelli’s enduring influence on fashion and her design legacy, culminating once more with Daniel Roseberry’s visionary creations that carry the Maison into the present day.
The exhibition will run from 28 March – 8 November 2026
Tickets can be purchased at vam.ac.uk
