Fashion

Step into the Elegance of the 18th Century: A Fantastical Legacy at Palais Galliera Palais Galliera, Paris | March 14 – July 12, 2026

This March, the Palais Galliera invites visitors to immerse themselves in a world where fashion is both art and storytelling. The Fashion of the 18th Century: A Fantastical Legacy celebrates the creativity, extravagance, and timeless elegance of the Enlightenment era, revealing how its bold silhouettes, sumptuous fabrics, and elaborate adornments continue to inspire designers and captivate audiences today. From royal corsets to modern couture, the exhibition promises a journey through centuries of style, where history meets imagination and fashion comes to life.

Au piano de Pierre Outin, 19e - sans date (n°inventaire 1119) © Musée d'arts de Nantes - Photo: Alain Guillard

This spring, Paris welcomes a dazzling journey into the world of 18th-century fashion with the Palais Galliera’s upcoming exhibition, The Fashion of the 18th Century: A Fantastical Legacy. Promising to enchant fashion enthusiasts and art lovers alike, the exhibition explores the elegance, creativity, and bold imagination of the Enlightenment era, while tracing its influence on style through the centuries.

Far from being a distant, dusty past, the 18th century was a time of extraordinary creativity; think sumptuous fabrics, striking silhouettes, and extravagant hairstyles and adornments. It marked a turning point in women’s fashion, redefining how the body and appearance were celebrated and imagined.

Visitors can expect over seventy ensembles, along with accessories, textiles, graphic arts, and photography. A highlight includes the exceptionally fragile corset of Queen Marie-Antoinette, rarely seen by the public. The exhibition also draws connections between historical pieces and modern couture, featuring iconic works by Chanel, Christian Dior, Louis Vuitton, Christian Lacroix, Vivienne Westwood, and Dries van Noten.

Curated to spark imagination and reflection, the show invites audiences to see how 18th-century fashion continues to inspire, from haute couture runways to pop culture aesthetics. Whether you’re a fashion devotee or simply curious about the stories behind the garments, this exhibition promises a visually stunning and thought-provoking experience.

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Corset attribué à la reine Marie-Antoinette (1755-1793), vers 1770-1780 Formal corset attributed to Queen Marie Antoinette (1755–1793), circa 1770–1780 CC0 Palais Galliera - Paris Musées

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Corset attribué à la reine Marie-Antoinette (1755-1793), vers 1770-1780 Formal corset attributed to Queen Marie Antoinette (1755–1793), circa 1770–1780 CC0 Palais Galliera - Paris Musées

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Robe à la française et jupe, vers 1775-1780 French-style dress and skirt, circa 1775-1780 CC0 Palais Galliera - Paris Musées

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Robe à l\'anglaise et jupe (détail), vers 1780-1790 English-style dress and skirt (detail), circa 1780-1790 CC0 Palais Galliera - Paris Musées

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Robe constituée d\'un corsage et d\'une jupe avec panier (détail), vers 1890-1900 Dress consisting of a bodice and a skirt with a hoop (detail), circa 1890-1900 CC0 Palais Galliera - Paris Musées

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Robe volante, étoffe, vers 1720-1730 robe et jupe, vers 1730-1735 So-called ‘flying’ dress. Fabric circa 1720-1730, dress circa 1730-1735 CC0 Palais Galliera - Paris Musées

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Utica Queen / Ethan Mundt, 2021 © Eric Magnussen

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Veste ayant appartenu à Claude Lamoral II (1685-1766), prince de Ligne et du Saint Empire Jacket that belonged to Claude Lamoral II (1685-1766), Prince of Ligne and of the Holy Roman Empire CC0 Palais Galliera - Paris Musées

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Corps à baleine, vers 1765-1775 Bodice, circa 1765-1775 CC0 Palais Galliera - Paris Musées

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Jacques Doucet, corset crée pour Cléo de Mérode, vers 1900 Jacques Doucet, corset created for Cléo de Mérode, circa 1900 CC0 Palais Galliera - Paris Musées

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Robe à la française, vers 1770-1780 French-style dress, circa 1770-1780 CC0 Palais Galliera - Paris Musées

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Robe à la française, vers 1755-1765 French-style dress, circa 1755-1765 CC0 Palais Galliera - Paris Musées

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Volker Hermes, Hidden Roslin, 2019 © Volker Hermes / Palais Galliera / Paris Musées

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Robe du soir Givenchy, collection Automne-Hiver 1957-1958 Givenchy evening dresss, Fall/Winter 1957-1958 collection CC0 Palais Galliera - Paris Musées

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Robe CHANEL par Karl Lagerfeld, Haute couture, automne-hiver 1992 Dress CHANEL by Karl Lagerfeld, Haute couture, Fall/Winter 1992 © Patrimoine CHANEL

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Practical Information
Palais Galliera – Musée de la Mode de Paris
10 Avenue Pierre Ier de Serbie, 75116 Paris
Open Tuesday to Sunday, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.; Friday evenings until 9 p.m.
Tickets: Solo €14 / Reduced €12 | Combined €17 / Reduced €15 | Free for under 18s
Reservations recommended: www.billetterie-parismusees.paris.fr