LONDON — The Victoria & Albert Museum’s next fashion exhibition will take a surreal turn.

“Schiaparelli: Fashion Becomes Art” will be staged at the Sainsbury Gallery from March 21 to Nov. 1, 2026.

The exhibition will chart the success of its founder, Elsa Schiaparelli, in the ’20s all the way up to present day under the current ownership of Diego Della Valle and the creative direction of Daniel Roseberry.

There will be over 200 objects in the show that span across Paris, London and New York, as well as World Wars I and II, including garments, accessories, jewelry, paintings, photographs, sculpture, furniture, perfumes and archive material.

Special pieces on display include the Skeleton dress from 1938, which covers the entire body in a black silk crêpe. In a 1939 interview, Schiaparelli said that she believes “in a strict neatness about both day and evening clothes, their simple lines accentuated by an original touch. A neck line can make or spoil a dress; amusing pockets can add distinction to the simplest jacket.”

Another standout piece that will feature is the Tears dress from 1938 made in collaboration with the Surrealist artist Salvador Dalí. The veil of the dress has been cut out and lined pink and magenta for trompe l’oeil.

“Elsa Schiaparelli’s fearless imagination and radical vision redefined the boundaries between fashion and art. This exhibition celebrates her enduring influence through iconic collaborations with 20th-century masters and a pioneering fusion of creativity and commerce,” said Delphine Bellini, chief executive officer of Schiaparelli.

“With its unparalleled collections, expertise in fashion and design, cultural reach, and ability to bridge tradition and innovation, the Victoria and Albert Museum offers the perfect setting to showcase her legacy alongside Daniel Roseberry’s creations, which carry her surrealist spirit forward, blurring lines with bold, sculptural designs that both honour and reinvent her vision for a new century,” she added.

Schiaparelli, who came from an Italian artistic background, often walked in artistic circles with the likes of Pablo Picasso, Jean Cocteau and Man Ray.

She designed costumes for the silver screen and stage. 

Schiaparelli costumed Mae West in the 1937 film “Every Day’s a Holiday” and borrowed the actor’s curvy silhouette for one of her perfume bottle designs. In 1952, she dressed Zsa Zsa Gabor in a pink gown in the film “Moulin Rouge.”

The designer is a recurring character in fashion history books. She famously feuded with Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel, but had to shut her business in 1954 after accruing large debts.

Schiaparelli was relaunched by Della Valle in 2012 and the house has spread the word about the history of its founder, starting with the publication of a book titled “Schiaparelli and the Artists,” published in 2017 to mark the 90th anniversary of the brand.