At the Palais Galliera, Musée de la Mode de la Ville de Paris, 2026 is already shaping up to be a year of elegance and excess. Among the year’s most eagerly awaited exhibitions and openings, Fashion in the 18th Century, A Phantasmagorical Legacy promises a sumptuous immersive experience, capable of seducing history buffs and fashion enthusiasts alike . In this prestigious setting, the tour reveals how 18th-century fashion continues to inspire contemporary designers, giving rise to iconic silhouettes by Chanel, Dior, Christian Lacroix and Nicolas Ghesquière for Balenciaga and Vuitton. The highlight of the visit is an exceptional piece steeped in history: a corset that once belonged to Queen Marie-Antoinette, a veritable heritage treasure embodying the refinement of the Age of Enlightenment.
From sculptural corsets to vertiginous hairstyles: 70 silhouettes at the Palais Galliera reveal the full splendor of 18th-century fashion.
Featuring more than 70 silhouettes, the exhibition highlights a key period in the transformation of shapes, volumes and fabrics. Sculptural corsets, architectural hairstyles… fashion became a language, amplified by the rise of the specialized press. Among the exhibition’s highlights, visitors will find a rare masterpiece that will capture every eye: a corset that once belonged to Queen Marie-Antoinette. A masterpiece that bears witness to the refinement and textile expertise of the Age of Enlightenment.
Chanel, Dior, Lacroix… A source of inspiration for the greatest contemporary designers, to be discovered in this new fashion exhibition.
And this new exhibition won’t just look back. It will reveal how this fashion heritage is constantly reinterpreted, from the 19th century to the 1950s, when French haute couture drew its inspiration from the 18th century. The dialogue continues right up to the present day, with iconic silhouettes by Chanel, Dior, Christian Lacroix, Nicolas Ghesquière for Balenciaga and Louis Vuitton. Proof that, far from being dusty, 18th-century fashion continues to fuel contemporary imagination and creation.
Practical info :
Exhibition “Eighteenth-century fashion, a fantasized heritage”.
📅F rom March 14 to July 12, 2026
📍 Palais Galliera – Musée de la Mode de la Ville de Paris. 10, avenue Pierre Ier de Serbie, 75116 Paris