The Victoria and Albert Museum has unveiled the first UK exhibition dedicated to Elsa Schiaparelli, offering a rare and comprehensive look at one of fashion’s most imaginative and boundary-pushing designers. Opening on 28 March 2026, Schiaparelli: Fashion Becomes Art traces the evolution of the Maison from the 1920s to the present day, culminating in the contemporary vision of creative director Daniel Roseberry.
Spanning nearly a century of creativity, the exhibition brings together more than 400 objects, including 100 ensembles and 50 artworks, as well as accessories, jewellery, paintings, photography, perfumes, and archival material. Through these pieces, the exhibition positions Schiaparelli not only as a couturier but as a cultural innovator who blurred the boundaries between fashion, art and performance.
Among the highlights are some of Schiaparelli’s most iconic creations, including the 1938 Skeleton dress and the celebrated Tears dress, both developed in collaboration with Salvador Dalí. Also featured are collaborations with leading artists of the era, including Pablo Picasso, Jean Cocteau, Man Ray and Eileen Agar, illustrating Schiaparelli’s deep connection to the surrealist movement and her ability to transform fashion into artistic expression.
The exhibition unfolds across four thematic chapters. Designing the Modern Wardrobe introduces Schiaparelli’s early years, from her 1927 Paris debut to her emergence as a leading couturier for the modern woman. Known for her innovative approach to daywear, she challenged traditional silhouettes with trouser suits, sharply tailored designs and imaginative eveningwear that redefined modern elegance.
Creative Constellations explores her close relationships with artists and creatives during the interwar years. Through these collaborations, Schiaparelli produced some of the most daring and surreal garments of the twentieth century, transforming clothing into conceptual works that challenged conventional ideas of beauty and fashion.
The third chapter, Beyond Paris, highlights Schiaparelli’s international influence, including her London salon in Mayfair, which played a key role in shaping British fashion and surrealist culture. Rare garments from this period, alongside costumes designed for theatre and film, demonstrate her global reach and cultural impact.
The final section, A Golden Thread, brings the story into the present day, showcasing how Daniel Roseberry has reinterpreted Schiaparelli’s legacy since 2019. His sculptural couture designs, worn by figures including Ariana Grande and Dua Lipa, reflect a contemporary continuation of the Maison’s bold and artistic spirit.
By bringing together historic masterpieces and contemporary couture, Schiaparelli: Fashion Becomes Art offers a compelling exploration of a designer who redefined fashion as an art form. Through innovation, collaboration and imagination, Schiaparelli’s legacy continues to influence fashion today, proving that creativity, when pushed beyond boundaries, becomes timeless.
Schiaparelli: Fashion Becomes Art
The Sainsbury Gallery, V&A Museum, London, 28 March – 8 November 2026