The Victoria and Albert (VA) Museum in London recently hosted an exclusive preview for its highly anticipated exhibition dedicated to the legendary fashion house, Schiaparelli. While the initial unveiling was for a star-studded audience last Tuesday night, the show officially opened its doors to the public on March 28.

Schiaparelli: Fashion Becomes Art Unveiled

The exhibition, titled 'Schiaparelli: Fashion Becomes Art,' delves into the rich history of the European surrealist fashion brand. It traces the journey from the avant-garde vision of its founder, Elsa Schiaparelli, through its significant impact on mid-20th-century fashion.

Furthermore, the show documents the successful revival of the maison more than five decades after its initial closure. The VA continues its advocacy for fashion as fine art, following previous major exhibitions on designers like Dior and Alexander McQueen.

Surrealism and Iconic Designs on Display

The exhibition highlights the brand's pioneering sartorial achievements, renowned for their sculptural and surrealist aesthetics. In total, the display features 400 objects, including 100 distinct ensembles spanning various decades.

Key historical pieces include Elsa Schiaparelli's famous 1938 Skeleton dress and the 1938 Tears dress. These garments exemplify the seminal collaborations between the designer and artist Salvador Dalí.

The collection also presents 50 works of art, alongside jewelry, furniture, perfumes, and crucial archive materials. Visitors can observe defining moments from Schiaparelli’s earliest collections.

Art and Fashion Intertwined

A central theme of the exhibit is the deliberate connection Schiaparelli forged between art and fashion. This link is powerfully underscored by the display of Salvador Dalí’s radical Lobster Telephone.

This iconic artwork is positioned directly alongside the Schiaparelli 1937 Lobster dress, which served as the direct inspiration for the telephone sculpture. Standout early pieces also include the trompe l’oeil bow-knot sweater from 1927, one of the brand’s first designs.

The Modern Schiaparelli Vision

The exhibition also provides a look at the brand’s contemporary direction under Daniel Roseberry. Attendees can view recent creations that have garnered significant attention.

Notable modern pieces include the golden bronchial lung necklace and gown worn by Bella Hadid at the 2021 Cannes Film Festival. Also featured is Dua Lipa's contemporary black-and-gold iteration of the skeleton dress from the 2024 Golden Globes.

'Schiaparelli: Fashion Becomes Art' is scheduled to remain open to the public through November 8, 2026.