Palais Galliera Explores 18th Century Fashion in The Fashion of the 18th Century A Fantastical Legacy
- DAAS2R
- 6 days ago
- 2 min read
In March, Palais Galliera in Paris opens The Fashion of the 18th Century A Fantastical Legacy, an exhibition centered on Enlightenment era dress and its influence across centuries, from court pieces to modern couture references.
In March, the Palais Galliera turns its focus to the 18th century with The Fashion of the 18th Century A Fantastical Legacy. The exhibition frames fashion as both visual culture and narrative, tracing how Enlightenment era dress continues to inform modern ideas of silhouette, craft and image.
The show positions the period as a moment of major stylistic invention, defined by strong shapes, rich textiles and elaborate adornment. It also underscores the 18th century as a turning point for women’s fashion, reshaping how the body was structured, styled and presented.
Visitors will see more than seventy ensembles alongside accessories, textiles, graphic arts and photography. A key highlight is the corset attributed to Queen Marie Antoinette, a rare loan due to its fragility and limited public display.
The exhibition draws explicit links between historical objects and contemporary fashion, referencing works connected to Chanel, Christian Dior, Louis Vuitton, Christian Lacroix, Vivienne Westwood and Dries van Noten. The intent is to show continuity rather than nostalgia, using specific garments and materials to map influence from court wardrobes to modern couture.
The Fashion of the 18th Century A Fantastical Legacy is curated to move beyond period display. It asks how a century known for scale and detail still shapes the way fashion communicates status, identity and imagination, and why these references continue to return across runway culture and popular aesthetics.
