Discover the Art of Fashion Trave
New exhibitions from global museums are rewriting the rules of fashion, from the earthy complexity of girlhood to the opulence of royal wardrobes.
A trip built around fashion, style and design. Museums are embracing the art of dressing, with exhibitions that examine identity, power and spectacle. From Antwerp’s take on girlhood to the Queen’s wardrobe at Buckingham Palace, these showcases deliver culture with couture. Pair it with an overnight stay or two, and you’ve got the ultimate gift for the fashion devotee in your life.
Antwerp
GIRLS: On Boredom, Rebellion and Being In-Between
MOMU Antwerp
Why go: Not your standard retrospective. MoMu explores how “girlhood” has been framed in fashion, art, film and photography, and why the gaps in that story matter today.
What you’ll see: Works from Edgar Degas, Sofia Coppola, Chopova Lowena, Jenny Fax and more. Paintings, stills, costumes and contributions from young people shaping the show’s voice.
Dates & travel tip: On until 1st February 2026. Fly to Brussels then take the 30–40 minute train to Antwerp, or land in Amsterdam and hop on a direct Thalys/IC train (around 75 minutes, often cheaper). Stay central for cobbled streets and cafés. The boutique Flora hotel channels pure Sofia Coppola energy.
DundeE
Catwalk: The Art of the Fashion Show
V&A Dundee
Why go: A tribute to the runway itself, where fashion becomes theatre.
What you’ll see: Over 100 years of spectacle from Chanel, Dior, McQueen, Yamamoto, Balenciaga and more. Film, photography, stage sets, and how catwalks evolved from private salons to global livestreams.
Dates & travel tip: Runs 3rd April 2026 to 17th January 2027. Check in at the Apex City Quay Hotel & Spa for a stylish overnight.
London
Schiaparelli: Fashion Becomes Art
V&A South Kensington
Why go: Elsa Schiaparelli always blurred boundaries, and this is the UK’s first major look at her legacy.
What you’ll see: Surrealist collaborations, lobster and tear motifs, vivid colours, plus the house’s journey into its modern era.
Dates & travel tip: Opens 21st March 2026. Beat queues by arriving early. For a luxe stay, The Pelham delivers charm and five-star polish. Pair with a day of Chelsea shopping and people-watching.
The Late Queen Elizabeth II: A Life in Style
Buckingham Palace
Why go: Royal style as diplomacy. This is billed as the largest exhibition of the late Queen’s wardrobe, capturing intimate moments and grand spectacles, as well as the coded messages in her clothing choices.
What you’ll see: Wedding and coronation gowns, evening dresses from the 1970s, hunting jackets, original sketches and personal notes. Pieces that span her reign and show how dress was used as communication.
Dates & travel tip: Opens spring 2026, running through autumn. Visitor capacity at Buckingham Palace is limited, so advance booking is essential. The Goring makes for a fitting stay, famously where Catherine, Princess of Wales, spent the night before her wedding. Don’t miss their classic afternoon tea.
Marie Antoinette Style
V&A South Kensington
Why go: A queen reimagined. This is the UK’s first major exhibition dedicated to Marie Antoinette, peeling back the myth to reveal her influence on fashion, politics and taste.
What you’ll see: Over 250 objects, from silk slippers and jewels to Élisabeth Vigée-Le Brun’s famed portrait. Rare loans from Versailles meet couture nods from Dior, Vivienne Westwood and Manolo Blahnik, showing how her legacy still shapes style.
Dates & travel tip: On till 22nd March 2026. Sleepover at Number Sixteen, a pastel dream of a South Kensington townhouse with a hidden garden. Stroll to the V&A in minutes, then toast the day at Daphne’s bar nearby.
Wes Anderson: The Archives
Design Museum
Why go: A design-obsessed feast. Anderson’s colour palettes, symmetry and props are as iconic as his films, and this show takes you inside his imagination.
What you’ll see: More than 600 archive pieces, from storyboards and notebooks to costumes and miniatures. Standouts include the Grand Budapest Hotel model, Mr Fox’s corduroy suit and Anderson’s prop machinery.
Dates & travel tip: On until 26th July 2026. Sleepover at The Standard for Brutalist meets Budapest, or The Zetter Marylebone for a curated vintage vibe. Sip at The Berkeley’s Blue Bar (50 shades of blue, literally) or book Sketch in Mayfair for an Instagram-ready dining hit.