OPENING on the 20 September 2025, the V&A has announced the Marie Antoinette Style, the first UK exhibition dedicated to the fashion queen.
The exhibition has been announced to feature 250 objects, some of which have never been seen outside France. Loaned from the Chateau de Versailles and from the V&A’s own collection, the exhibition will display historical items such as jewels from Marie Antoinette’s personal collection, her silk slippers and the last note she ever wrote.
The ill-fated Queen has been a constant source of inspiration for 250 years of design, fashion, film and decorative arts.
Vigée Le Brun Louise-Elisabeth (1755-1842). Versailles, châteaux de Versailles et de Trianon. MV3893.
“Paire de pantoufles ayant appartenu à Marie-Antoinette”. Objet d’art. Paris, musée Carnavalet.
Curated by Sarah Grant, the story of the Queen will be acted out in four parts. The exhibition will explore how Marie Antoinette’s legacy has shifted throughout history and has been reimagined to be a legend of beauty and fashion. Presented through audio-visual installations and immersive curation, her story will be explained through new lenses that bring complex figures’ feminine and lavish style to life.
Introducing the exhibition Marie Antoinette: The Origins of a Style, this section will chronologically explore how she forged an identity as the flamboyant Queen Consort of France. Beginning in 1770 and ending with her execution in 1793, it will examine the scandals, philosophies, and the infamous “let them eat cake” myth that continues to follow the Queen to this day.
The Second Act Marie Antionette memorialised: The Birth of a Style Cult, explores the revival of Marie Antionettes style and interest within her in the mid 1800s due to the influence of Empress Eugenie, that caused a phenomenal wave of interest towards Maries style and how this would influence international style in England and North America.
Continuing with Marie Antoinette: Enchantment and Illusion, this section explores how her image came to symbolise fantasy and escapism during the Art Nouveau and Art Deco periods. She was romanticised in illustrations, interiors, and fashion imagery. Antoinette was reimagined as a muse of beauty and decadence, blending history with dreamlike nostalgia. Her influence aligned with the elegance and sensuality central to these artistic movements.
Moschino
Finally, in Marie Antoinette Re-Styled, explore the various contemporary interpretations of Marie Antoinette. We can see how her cultural impact has inspired numerous designers, such as Vivienne Westwood, Moschino, and Manolo Blahnik, who are sponsoring the exhibition.
Various couture pieces by Dior and Erdem will be presented, capturing Antoinette’s legacy of luxury and extravagance. The exhibition examines more than just her influence on fashion. It showcases her impact on art and popular culture through photography by Tim Walker, as well as the iconic 2006 film by Sofia Coppola, highlighting the lasting impact of art, photography, and costuming.
Tickets for the exhibition are available now from the V&A website.
by Ellis Dowle