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 with the founding of the Schiaparelli brand. Over the course of her life, she created wearable art that pushed people’s understandings of what fashion and art could be. And now, her life and legacy are being celebrated with a momentous UK-first-of-its-kind exhibition. Schiaparelli: Fashion Becomes Art will open at the V&A this March, inviting visitors to explore the blurred line separating fashion and art.
The new fashion-focused exhibition will open at the V&A on March 28, 2026. The exhibition will take over the museum’s Sainsbury Gallery, shortly after the current Marie Antoinette exhibition closes on March 22.
Schiaparelli: Fashion Becomes Art
So, what exactly is in store for visitors to the special fashion showcase? The V&A describes the upcoming exhibition as:
“[The] first exhibition ever staged in the UK devoted to Schiaparelli. Spanning the 1920s to the present day, the exhibition charts the history and impact of one of the 20th century’s most innovative fashion designers, Elsa Schiaparelli. The show will trace the origins of the house, from its first, paradigm-shifting garments, through to its present-day incarnation in the hands of its creative director, Daniel Roseberry.”
The esteemed museum has worked closely with the Schiaparelli fashion house, so you can expect to see some pretty spectacular sights. Among the over 200 pieces on display, there will be everything from garments to accessories, paintings, sculpture, furniture, perfumes, and more. Altogether, they present a compelling picture of Schiaparelli, whilst demonstrating the founder’s endless creativity.
It’s another in a string of fashionable exhibitions from the esteemed London museum, such as exhibitions on the likes of Marie Antoinette, Naomi Campbell, Coco Chanel, and more. It all makes sense when you find out that the V&A is home to a world-class fashion collection. Their collection “is designated as the UK’s National Collection and is one of the largest and most comprehensive collections of dress in the world.”
Elsa Schiaparelli
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 Dali. 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 opens at the V&A South Kensington on March 28, 2026.
🎟️ Tickets available soon. Keep up to date here.