This spring, the Victoria and Albert Museum turns its focus to one of fashion’s most radical visionaries with Schiaparelli: Fashion Becomes Art, the first UK exhibition dedicated entirely to the house.
Spanning from the 1920s to today, the show traces the evolution of Elsa Schiaparelli and her enduring impact on the relationship between fashion and art. More than a retrospective, it positions her work as part of a broader creative movement, one that moved fluidly between couture, performance, and surrealist expression.
Across more than 400 objects, the exhibition brings together garments, artworks, and archival material that highlight Schiaparelli’s instinct for collaboration. Pieces created alongside artists like Salvador Dalí sit alongside works by Pablo Picasso and Jean Cocteau, reinforcing the house’s long-standing dialogue with the art world.
Iconic designs, including the Skeleton dress and the Tears dress, underscore her ability to challenge conventions of beauty and form.
The exhibition also extends beyond its origins, exploring Schiaparelli’s international reach, including its lesser-known London presence, and her influence across film, theatre, and society at large. A final section connects past to present, highlighting the work of current creative director Daniel Roseberry, whose sculptural, often surreal designs continue to push the house forward while remaining rooted in its experimental DNA.
What emerges is a portrait of a designer who never saw fashion as separate from art, but as part of the same creative language.
Schiaparelli: Fashion Becomes Art is on view at the V&A from March 28 through November 8, 2026 and is open to the public, with tickets available through the museum.
