V&A’s New Schiaparelli Exhibition Proves Without a Doubt That Fashion and Art Are One

It is a self-evident fact that fashion and visual arts go hand in hand. But for Elsa Schiaparelli, it wasn’t just about these two studies that coexist. In his mind, it was about bringing them together completely, so that the boundaries between them disappeared completely. This philosophy is followed with expert precision in the new exhibition dedicated to Schiaparelli and his famous fashion house.

It is currently on view at the V&A in London’s South Kensington neighborhood, Schiaparelli: Fashion Becomes Art it brings together more than 400 items, including 100 ensembles as well as accessories, jewelry, paintings, photographs, furniture, perfumes and storage accessories. Together, these styles provide a complete picture of Schiaparelli’s design style and the evolution of the haute couture brand, even after his death in 1973. The first dresses from the early 20th century, for example, complement the new styles produced under the direction of the house’s current creative director, Daniel Roseberry. The end result is surprising: visitors see how ambitious and visionary Schiaparelli’s house has become over time.

Above all, however, the exhibition highlights Elsa Schiaparelli’s deep connections with the art world during her lifetime. He was surrounded by contemporaries such as Man Ray, Jean Cocteau and Salvador Dalí, with whom he collaborated on several occasions. One such feature is the image Skeleton from 1938. “Dear Elsa, I like the idea of ​​’external bones’ very much,” Dalí wrote in the letter. Complete with an inset ribcage and a back from a black silhouette as bones would, this dress was based on a painting by Dalí and is the only known example of its kind. Moreover, Skeleton so rare that the V&A’s conservation team estimate that this exhibition is the last time it will be on public display.

Considering her fascination with and participation in surrealism, it should come as no surprise that Schiaparelli incorporated her aesthetic into her work. The 1927 soap has a trompe l’oeil knot on the chest, while the dinner suit sparkles with greased circus horses. Shoes become hats, and naked mermaids and carved elephant trunks are considered buttons. However, Sonnet Stanfill, the V&A’s senior curator of fashion, points out that “Schiaparelli was not the only one to embrace Surrealist imagery and apply it to her clothes.”

Stanfill continues: “He was a very creative person, and there was a real collaborative exchange with these artists and designers.”

That consistency is evident in the show’s pictures. Visitors can encounter everything from Man Ray’s painting of an illuminated lamp decorated with a harlequin coat, to Dalí’s famous one. Lobster Phone from 1938, which was inspired by the so-called Schiaparelli Lobster dress since 1937. Schiaparelli paintings also feature in the exhibition, capturing what the V&A calls “eclectic taste.” All these facts agree with a good conclusion, which Schiaparelli presented himself clearly: fashion is art, and vice versa.

He once said: “For me, fashion design is not a profession, but an art.”

Schiaparelli: Fashion Becomes Art on view at the V&A South Kensington until 8 November 2026.

A major exhibition celebrating Elsa Schiaparelli and her haute couture brand has arrived at the V&A in London.

On view until November 8, 2026, Fashion Becomes Art celebrates Schiaparelli’s enduring commitment to surrealism and breaking expectations with new clothes.

Display Information:
Schiaparelli: Fashion Becomes Art
28 March–8 November 2026
V&A South Kensington
Cromwell Road, London, SW7 2RL

V&A: Website | Instagram

All images via the V&A press.

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