V&A to stage UK’s first-ever Schiaparelli exhibition

The V&A has today announced that it will open the UK’s first-ever exhibition dedicated to the pioneering fashion house Schiaparelli.

Titled Schiaparelli: Fashion Becomes Art, the show will chart the evolution of the Maison from the 1920s through to today, celebrating founder Elsa Schiaparelli’s trailblazing contributions to fashion.

Running from 21 March to 1 November 2026 in the Sainsbury Gallery, the exhibition will feature over 200 objects, including garments, jewellery, accessories, artworks and archive materials.

Elsa Schiaparelli was an Italian-born designer who became one of the most influential figures in 20th-century fashion. Active mainly in Paris between the 1920s and 1950s, she was known for her surreal, avant-garde designs, pioneering ideas such as surrealism and the shade she is so often remembered for - shocking pink.

At the exhibition, visitors can expect to see iconic pieces such as the ‘Skeleton’ and ‘Tears’ dresses, and Schiaparelli’s surreal shoe hat - many created in collaboration with Salvador Dalí. Artworks by Man Ray, Picasso and Cocteau will also be on display, reflecting Schiaparelli’s deep integration into the surrealist art world.

"In difficult times fashion is always outrageous." - Elsa Schiaparelli

The exhibition will also explore the designer’s lesser-known London operations and highlight her role as a female entrepreneur whose visionary approach continues to influence contemporary fashion.

V&A Director, Tristram Hunt, said: "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."

Today, Creative Director Daniel Roseberry, who was appointed in 2019, carries forward Schiaparelli’s surrealist spirit from the brand’s iconic Place Vendôme atelier, continuing to blur the line between art and couture.