In the worlds of fashion and art, one name that has always bridged the two fields is Elsa Schiaparelli. Originally a talented painter and sculptor, Schiaparelli became an inventive and revolutionary designer, founding the namesake Schiaparelli brand. Over the course of her life, she created wearable art that blurred the boundaries between fashion and art.
This year, her life and legacy have been celebrated at a momentous UK-first-of-its-kind exhibition. Schiaparelli: Fashion Becomes Art opened at the V&A earlier this year, inviting visitors to explore the blurred line separating fashion and art.
But that exhibition is set to close soon, and there are just a few weeks left to explore Schiaparelli’s life, talent, and impact. Schiaparelli: Fashion Becomes Art will close at the V&A on Sunday, November 15.
Schiaparelli: Fashion Becomes Art
The V&A has worked closely with the Schiaparelli fashion house, so you can expect to see some pretty spectacular sights. The exhibition features over 200 pieces, including garments, accessories, paintings, sculpture, furniture, perfumes, and more. Altogether, they present a compelling picture of Schiaparelli, whilst demonstrating the founder’s endless creativity.
The V&A already displays a number of pieces from Elsa Schiaparelli in its collection. Among them is the ‘Skeleton dress’, which was designed in collaboration with artist Salvador Dalí. The collection also features some of her earliest designs, as well as other pieces created in collaboration with surrealist artists. It’s in these pieces that you can see Schiaparelli’s belief that fashion truly is art.
Said Delphine Bellini, CEO of Schiaparelli: “Elsa Schiaparelli’s fearless imagination and radical vision redefined the boundaries between fashion and art. This exhibition celebrates her enduring influence through iconic collaborations with 20th-century masters and a pioneering fusion of creativity and commerce. With its unparalleled collections, expertise in fashion and design, cultural reach, and ability to bridge tradition and innovation, the Victoria and Albert Museum offers the perfect setting to showcase her legacy alongside Daniel Roseberry’s creations, which carry her surrealist spirit forward blurring lines with bold, sculptural designs that both honour and reinvent her vision for a new century.”
🖼️ ‘Schiaparelli: Fashion Becomes Art’ will close on November 15, 2026.
🎟️ Find out more and grab tickets here.
📍 V&A South Kensington, Cromwell Road, SW7 2RL. The nearest station is South Kensington.
