At the Palais Galliera, the City of Paris’s Fashion Museum, 2026 is already shaping up to be a year of elegance and extravagance. Among the most anticipated exhibitions and openings of the year, “18th-Century Fashion: A Fantastical Legacy” promises a sumptuous immersive experience, sure to captivate both history buffs and fashion enthusiasts alike . In this prestigious setting, the exhibition 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: an exceptional piece steeped in history— a corset that once belonged to Queen Marie Antoinette, a true heritage treasure that embodies the refinement of the Age of Enlightenment.
From sculptural corsets to towering hairstyles: at the Palais Galliera, 70 silhouettes reveal the full splendor of 18th-century fashion
Through a rich display of over 70 outfits, the exhibition will highlight a pivotal era in which shapes, volumes, and fabrics underwent a transformation. Sculptural corsets, architectural hairstyles… fashion becomes a language, amplified by the rise of the specialized press. Among the exhibition’s highlights, visitors will find an extremely rare masterpiece that will capture everyone’s attention: a corset that once belonged to Queen Marie Antoinette. A showpiece, a testament to the refinement and textile craftsmanship of the Age of Enlightenment.
Chanel, Dior, Lacroix… A source of inspiration for today’s greatest designers, to be discovered in this new fashion exhibition
And this new exhibition will not merely 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 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 creativity.
Practical information:
Exhibition: “18th-Century Fashion: A Fantasized Heritage”
📅 March 14–July 12, 2026
📍 Palais Galliera – Paris Fashion Museum. 10 Avenue Pierre Ier de Serbie, 75116 Paris