Fashion Exhibition: Schiaparelli: Fashion Becomes Art to be staged at London's Victoria & Albert Museum in 2026

London's Victoria & Albert Museum (V&A) has unveiled a major exhibition to take place in 2026 : Schiaparelli: Fashion Becomes Art, - the first exhibition ever to be staged in the UK devoted entirely to the visionary Italian couturière Elsa Schiaparelli and her eponymous fashion house.

Vogue 1940; Designer Elsa Schiaparelli wearing black silk dress with crocheted collar of her own design and a turban (Photo by Fredrich BakerCondé Nast via Getty Images).

Hosted in the museum’s prestigious Sainsbury Gallery, the retrospective spans more than 200 objects, encompassing garments, accessories, jewellery, perfume bottles, fine art, furniture, archival documents, photography and theatre costume design.

Tristram Hunt, Director of the V&A, noted that the museum houses Britain’s foremost collection of Schiaparelli garments and praised the designer’s collaborations and theatrical approach as making her an ideal subject for a spectacular exhibition.

Founded in 1927 in Paris, Elsa Schiaparelli is known for revolutionising couture with her fearless imagination, irreverent humour and artistic collaborations—prompting Vogue to dub her “the nexus of fashion, art and performance”.  

'Tears' Evening dress and head veil, designed by Elsa Schiaparelli, February 1938 for Circus Collection, summer 1938. Fabric designed by Salvador Dali (c) Victoria and Albert Museum, London

Exhibition highlights will include iconic couture pieces such as the Skeleton Dress and the Tears Dress, both created in collaboration with Salvador Dalí, the surreal shoe‑hat, inspired by Dalí and now a classic of fashion fantasy, as well as accompanying artworks by Pablo Picasso, Jean Cocteau and Man Ray, underscoring Schiaparelli’s deep connections with the Surrealist movement.

Vogue 1936; Two models wearing dresses by Schiaparelli. Right: in a dark crepe with bands of gold braids down the front, over satin pajamas; Left, in a black satin with bands of rippled gold ribbons.   
(Photo by Cecil BeatonCondé Nast via Getty Images) 

Ankle-length coat of black silk jersey with facial profiles forming a rose-filled vase, Elsa Schiaparelli, Jean Cocteau and Lesage, London, 1937 (c) Victoria and Albert Museum, London.

Rare archive materials and pieces from Schiaparelli’s London branch, illuminating her impact on British couture and her personal involvement in UK clientele.  

Schiaparelli by Daniel Roseberry Long sheath gown, Matador Couture collection Haute couture fall-winter 2021–2022 Wool crepe. Gilded brass necklace adorned with rhinestones in the shape of lungs. Patrimoine Schiaparelli, Paris

The exhibition will also feature modern creations from Daniel Roseberry, creative director of Schiaparelli since 2019, whose sculptural gowns and bold aesthetic continue to reflect the founding designer's surrealist spirit.

Delphine Bellini, CEO of the House of Schiaparelli, emphasised that the exhibition celebrates Elsa’s “fearless imagination and radical vision” and highlights her enduring influence through a fusion of creativity and commerce. She commended the V&A for offering the perfect stage to showcase her legacy alongside Roseberry’s contemporary reinterpretations.

All images courtesy of Victoria and Albert Museum.