SCHIAPARELLI STYLE AT THE V&A
The Victoria and Albert Museum’s exhibition Schiaparelli: Fashion Becomes Art offers a striking journey into the world of one of fashion’s most imaginative and unconventional designers. Celebrating the legacy of Elsa Schiaparelli, the exhibition explores how she transformed clothing into a form of surrealist art, blending fashion with creativity, humour and bold visual storytelling.
V&A © 2025 Salvador Dali, Fundació Gala-Salvador Dalí, DACS. Photograph © Emil Larsson
Spanning designs from the 1920s through to contemporary interpretations, the exhibition highlights how Schiaparelli pushed the boundaries of what fashion could be. From her early collaborations with artists such as Salvador Dalí and Jean Cocteau to her signature use of shocking pink, her work challenged traditional ideas of elegance and luxury.
Visitors are introduced to some of her most iconic creations, including the famous skeleton dress, the tear dress and the lobster-inspired designs that blurred the line between fashion and sculpture. These pieces reflect her fascination with surrealism and her belief that clothing could be expressive, theatrical and thought-provoking.
Alongside Schiaparelli’s original work, the exhibition also explores the evolution of the fashion house under modern creative director Daniel Roseberry. His contemporary couture designs continue the house’s surrealist legacy, reinterpreting Schiaparelli’s bold aesthetic for today’s red carpets and runway moments.
A key strength of the exhibition is the way it places Schiaparelli within a wider artistic context. Paintings, photographs and collaborations with major 20th-century artists help illustrate how deeply she was embedded in the creative movements of her time, working at the intersection of art, fashion and culture.
Photo © Giovanni Giannoni. Photo courtesy Patrimoine Schiaparelli, Paris
The exhibition also showcases the technical craftsmanship behind the garments, from intricate embroidery to sculptural tailoring. These details reveal the level of skill required to bring Schiaparelli’s imaginative ideas to life, reinforcing her status as both designer and artist.
Modern pieces included in the display demonstrate how her influence continues to shape fashion today. The dialogue between past and present highlights the enduring relevance of her surrealist vision and its impact on contemporary couture.
Ultimately, Schiaparelli: Fashion Becomes Art is a celebration of fearless creativity. It invites visitors to see fashion not just as clothing, but as a powerful artistic medium, one that continues to inspire, surprise and challenge perceptions nearly a century after Schiaparelli first redefined it.