Schiaparelli: Fashion Becomes Art
The UK’s first Schiaparelli exhibition stages about 400 objects from Elsa’s Surrealist couture through Daniel Roseberry’s celebrity-era house at the V&A.
2026 dates
- Venue
- V&A South Kensington, Sainsbury Gallery
- Where to plan around
- South Kensington, Cromwell Road
- Access
- Timed exhibition tickets required (about £28 weekdays / £30 weekends); V&A members free. General museum admission remains free.
- Official information
- Visit Victoria and Albert Museum ↗
The Banquet note
Schiaparelli: Fashion Becomes Art opened at the Victoria and Albert Museum on 28 March 2026 and runs through 8 November 2026 in the Sainsbury Gallery at South Kensington. Curated by Sonnet Stanfill with the house’s heritage team, it is the UK’s first exhibition dedicated to Elsa Schiaparelli and the contemporary maison under Daniel Roseberry. Roughly 400 objects include about 100 ensembles and 50 artworks, with standouts such as the 1938 Skeleton Dress from the V&A collection, the 1937 Lobster Dress shown beside Dalí’s Lobster Telephone, and Roseberry looks worn by Bella Hadid, Dua Lipa and Ariana Grande.
Treat the ticketed hang as one appointment, not a walk-through between Natural History selfies. Weekday tickets are typically cheaper than weekends; Friday late museum hours can help after a fair day if the exhibition stays open. Confirm current prices, concessions and timed slots on vam.ac.uk before locking a South Kensington hotel morning.
Plan it well
Book timed tickets ahead for October Frieze weekends. Base near South Kensington or Knightsbridge for a short walk, and keep Mayfair dinners separate. Recheck vam.ac.uk for Friday late access to the exhibition itself.