The legacy of fashion icon Marie Antoinette

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With ‘Marie Antoinette Style’, the Victoria & Albert Museum in London is dedicating a major exhibition to the most influential fashion icon of the 18th century – the first of its kind in the UK. Until 22 March 2026, visitors can immerse themselves in the world of the French queen.

Famous for her lavish taste, youthful extravagance, and tragic downfall, Marie Antoinette has not only shaped (fashion) history, but also pop culture, art, and cinema.

Historical exhibits and contemporary interpretations

The show is sponsored by shoe designer Manolo Blahnik, whose designs were featured in Sofia Coppola’s film Marie Antoinette. Over 250 exhibits, including original pieces such as silk slippers, personal jewellery, items from her sumptuous court wardrobe, and a perfume bottle from her travel set, are juxtaposed with masterpieces of haute couture, including creations by Dior, Chanel, and Vivienne Westwood. The exhibition is complemented by film and stage costumes, iconic photographs, and contemporary interpretations.

In addition to dresses and accessories, the exhibition features further highlights that provide insight into the life of the extravagant queen, including a painting by François Hubert Drouais (1773) and an armchair from her suite at the Château de Saint-Cloud (1788).

Antoinetta 2005 by Manolo Blahnik — Shoe «Antoinetta» by Manolo Blahnik (2005)

Marie Antoinette Style Cr Paris Musees Musee Carnavalet — Silk shoes of Marie Antoinette

Marie Antoinette Style Cr Chateau de Versailles Dist Grand Palais RMN Christophe Fouin Andrea Grossi — Left: Portrait of Marie Antoinette with a Rose, Élisabeth-Louise Vigée Le Brun, right: design by Andrea Grossi

Marie Antoinette Style Cr Vicotria Albert Museum London 2 — Left: painting by François Hubert Drouais (1773), right: armchair from her suite at the Château de Saint-Cloud (1788)

Marie Antoinette Style Cr Vicotria Albert Museum London — Bracelet clasps

For history and fashion fans

The exhibition not only tells the story of Marie Antoinette’s sense of style, but also her cultural impact spanning two centuries: from Baroque opulence to the avant-garde of the 1920s, modern fashion magazines, and couture catwalks.

‘Marie Antoinette Style’ is on display until 22 March 2026 in Galleries 38 and 39 of the V&A South Kensington.