Summary
- London’s Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) is hosting the first-ever UK exhibition dedicated to Maison Schiaparelli, running from March 28 through November 8, 2026
- Featuring over 400 objects, the retrospective highlights Elsa Schiaparelli’s legendary collaborations with Salvador Dalí and Jean Cocteau alongside highly coveted archival garments
- The exhibition concludes with a dedicated look at current Creative Director Daniel Roseberry’s viral celebrity looks, including pieces worn by Ariana Grande and Dua Lipa
London’s Victoria and Albert Museum is officially honoring one of the most innovative and daring minds in fashion history. Opening this Saturday, March 28, “Schiaparelli: Fashion Becomes Art” marks the first-ever exhibition staged in the UK entirely devoted to the legendary Maison Schiaparelli. Charting the label’s profound impact from the 1920s to the present day, the massive retrospective traces the House’s surrealist origins under founder Elsa Schiaparelli all the way to its current celebrated incarnation under Creative Director Daniel Roseberry.
Comprising over 400 objects—including 100 ensembles, 50 artworks, jewelry, and rare archival material—the exhibition is meticulously divided into four thematic chapters. The retrospective begins with “Designing the Modern Wardrobe,” highlighting Elsa’s expansion into practical yet avant-garde daywear (including a rare 1927 trompe l’oeil bow-knot sweater). It then transitions into “Creative Constellations,” a section that heavily explores her legendary collaborations with 1920s and 30s surrealist masters. Visitors can expect to see iconic pieces like the 1938 Skeleton dress, the 1938 Tears dress, and the famed 1937 Lobster dress displayed in direct dialogue with Salvador Dalí’s “Lobster Telephone” and Jean Cocteau’s intricate drawings.
Breaking new ground, the “Beyond Paris” section spotlights the 1933 opening of her London salon in Mayfair and her outsized influence on British, French, and American stage and film productions. This chapter features custom costumes designed for Hollywood icon Mae West, sharp tailoring favored by Marlene Dietrich, and a rare Elsa Schiaparelli wedding dress made from oyster-colored crinkled rayon.
Bringing the legacy into the modern era, the exhibition concludes with “A Golden Thread.” This final chapter celebrates the contemporary vision of Daniel Roseberry, who has seamlessly carried Elsa’s subversive spirit forward since taking the helm in 2019. Fashion fans will recognize some of the house’s most viral recent creations on display, including the bedazzled robot baby carried by Maggie Maurer during the Spring/Summer 2024 couture show, Dua Lipa’s modern Skeleton dress from the 2024 Golden Globes, and the glittering gown worn by Ariana Grande at the 2025 Oscars.
By blurring the boundaries between commercial fashion and high art, “Schiaparelli: Fashion Becomes Art” offers an unprecedented look at how the Maison redefined modern beauty. The exhibit will run from March 28, 2026 to November 8, 2026 at The Sainsbury Gallery at the V&A.