Schiaparelli: Fashion Becomes Art – A Provocative Retrospective at the V&A
This Saturday, March 28, 2026, the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) in London opens its doors to Schiaparelli: Fashion Becomes Art, a major exhibition celebrating the surreal and influential designs of Elsa Schiaparelli. The exhibition showcases the designer’s groundbreaking work from the 1920s to the present day, highlighting her collaborations with artists like Salvador Dalí and the current creative director, Daniel Roseberry’s, impact on the brand.
A Shocking Legacy
Elsa Schiaparelli’s impact on fashion is undeniable. In 1937, she launched her signature scent, Shocking, and popularized the vibrant shade of fuchsia known as “shocking pink.” Her 1954 autobiography, Shocking Life, further cemented her reputation for challenging conventions. Schiaparelli’s designs were often provocative, pushing boundaries and blurring the lines between art and fashion.
Key Pieces on Display
The exhibition features a diverse range of Schiaparelli’s creations, including:
- The Knit Sweater (1927): This early success, created in collaboration with an Armenian knitter, features a two-tone technique creating the illusion of tweed and a distinctive bow motif. Its popularity led to widespread copies.
- Rosalinde Gilbert’s Wedding Dress (1934): A unique piece, this is the only known surviving Elsa Schiaparelli wedding dress, designed with removable sleeves for versatility.
- The Skeleton Dress (1938): Part of the Circus collection, this dress features a three-dimensional skeleton appliquéd onto the fabric, a collaboration with Salvador Dalí, and is considered one of Schiaparelli’s most radical designs.
- Shocking Perfume Bottle (1937): Designed in collaboration with artist Leonor Fini, the bottle’s form is inspired by the torso of actress Mae West, and features a signature measuring tape detail.
- Ariana Grande’s Oscar Gown (2025): A custom crimson gown created by Daniel Roseberry for Ariana Grande’s performance at the 97th Academy Awards, featuring a ruby slipper detail referencing both The Wizard of Oz and Schiaparelli’s earlier shoe hat collaboration with Dalí.
Daniel Roseberry and the House’s Revival
The exhibition acknowledges the significant role Daniel Roseberry has played in the recent resurgence of the Schiaparelli brand. Roseberry has been involved in curating the exhibition, lending pieces from the house’s archive, including garments from the January 2026 couture presentation. “The exhibition is opening at such a good moment,” says Sonnet Stanfill, the exhibition’s lead curator and senior curator at the V&A.
A Call to Collectors
Stanfill expressed a lingering hope to include a Schiaparelli skisuit in the exhibition, as the designer created many and was an avid skier. She issued a public appeal: “Perhaps if your readers have one hiding in their attics they can let me know!”
Schiaparelli: Fashion Becomes Art runs from March 28 to November 1, 2026, at the V&A. Tickets are available here.