Met's Costume Institute
The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City proudly presents its revitalized Costume Institute, featuring nearly 12,000 square feet of exhibition space.
Adjacent to the Grand Hall, this area is dedicated to showcasing the Institute's renowned annual spring exhibitions, alongside other curatorial highlights from the museum. The inaugural exhibition, commencing May 10 and running until January 10, 2027, is titled "Costume Art." This exhibition will be celebrated at the Met Gala on May 4, co-chaired by prominent figures like Beyoncé, Nicole Kidman, Venus Williams, and Anna Wintour. The exhibition aims to foster a dialogue between fashion and art by juxtaposing garments with artworks from the Met's vast collection, exploring the intrinsic link between clothing, the human form, and fashion as an artistic expression.
Museum at FIT
Nestled within the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City, a hub for design and creative industries, the Museum at FIT offers a rich tapestry of fashion exhibitions, educational programs, and insightful publications. Its extensive permanent collection boasts approximately 50,000 garments and accessories, chronicling fashion from the 18th century to the present day. This collection features remarkable pieces from legendary designers such as Adrian, Balenciaga, Chanel, and Dior. A compelling upcoming special exhibition, running from September 16 through January 4, 2027, delves into the fascinating relationship between dolls and high fashion, presenting designs that span from the 18th century to contemporary times, created by esteemed designers like Marc Jacobs, Lanvin, Martin Margiela, and Anna Sui, among others.
Stuart Weitzman Shoe Museum
Opening on June 18 within the New York Historical Society's new Tang Wing for American Democracy, the Stuart and Jane Weitzman Shoe Museum will unveil a captivating display of around 150 pairs of historical footwear. This collection originates from the personal archives of Stuart and Jane Weitzman. Stuart Weitzman, the founder of his acclaimed women's shoe brand in 1986, saw his wife, Jane, begin her artistic endeavor in 1996. She started commissioning and collecting unique, artful shoe renditions, often crafted from unconventional materials like fresh flowers or stained glass, to adorn their boutique windows. These exquisite and imaginative pieces will be featured in the Shoe Museum. Additionally, another exhibit within the museum will illuminate women's history through the lens of footwear, tracing its evolution from the suffrage movement in the early 1900s to the glamorous era of Hollywood.
Bata Shoe Museum
Established in Toronto in 1995 by the late Sonja Bata, wife of the renowned shoemaker Thomas Bata, the Bata Shoe Museum offers an expansive journey through 4,500 years of footwear history. Its four rotating galleries present a diverse array of exhibitions. Currently on view until September 20 is "Rough & Ready: A History of the Cowboy Boot." Following this, until April 2027, visitors can experience the inaugural exhibition dedicated to Andre Perugia, an Italian-French shoe designer whose innovative creations redefined luxury footwear. Later, from May 7 until September 2027, the museum will host "Vindolanda: Footwear from the Edge of the Roman Empire," showcasing footwear-related artifacts discovered near Hadrian's Wall in Northumberland, England.
Victoria and Albert Museum
London's Victoria and Albert Museum, situated in South Kensington, houses a world-class fashion collection that spans five centuries, representing the largest and most comprehensive assortment of dresses globally. The museum's holdings encompass exquisite pieces ranging from 17th-century gowns and 1930s eveningwear by Coco Chanel to 1960s daywear by Mary Quant, alongside post-war haute couture creations by Christian Dior and Cristóbal Balenciaga. From now until November 8, the V&A presents "Schiaparelli," the first exhibition in the UK dedicated to the influential designer Elsa Schiaparelli. This exhibition traces the evolution and impact of one of the 20th century's most inventive fashion figures, from the inception of her iconic house to its current form under artistic director Daniel Roseberry. The exhibit features over 400 items, including approximately 100 ensembles, 50 artworks, accessories, jewelry, paintings, photographs, furniture, perfumes, and archival materials.
MoMu Antwerp
The MoMu (Fashion Museum Antwerp) is home to the most extensive collection of contemporary Belgian fashion worldwide and is celebrated for its captivating, immersive exhibitions. Running until January 17, 2027, the exhibition "The Antwerp Six" explores the distinct journey connecting the city's six legendary fashion designers: Dirk Bikkembergs, Ann Demeulemeester, Walter Van Beirendonck, Dries Van Noten, Dirk Van Saene, and Marina Yee. Their creative paths began during their studies at the fashion department of the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp, leading to a pivotal presentation of their collections at the British Designer Show in 1986. This event marked their international breakthrough and firmly established Antwerp as a global fashion capital.
La Galerie Dior Paris
The historic Maison Dior in Paris has been beautifully transformed into La Galerie Dior, a spectacular tribute to the visionary spirit of couturier Christian Dior and his six distinguished successors: Yves Saint Laurent, Marc Bohan, Gianfranco Ferré, John Galliano, Raf Simons, and Maria Grazia Chiuri. This esteemed gallery showcases an array of exquisite outfits, original design sketches, invaluable archival documents, captivating accessories, and unique "exceptional pieces," many of which are being exhibited for the very first time. Through May 17, the gallery features over 100 works by Dior from the private collection of Madame Raymonde Zehnacker, the Tunisian-French couturier. Additionally, a special exhibition focusing on the legacy of Yves Saint Laurent is currently on display at the Musée d'Art Moderne de Paris until June 21.
Ferragamo Museo Florence
Founded in 1995 by the family of the iconic Italian shoe designer Salvatore Ferragamo, the Ferragamo Museo in Florence aims to introduce global audiences to the artistic brilliance of Ferragamo and his significant influence on the history of footwear and international fashion. The museum is uniquely situated within the medieval cellars of the Palazzo Spini Feroni, a historic building dating back to the 17th and 18th centuries, which also houses Florentine paintings and a chapel, and serves as the headquarters for the renowned footwear company. The museum describes its current temporary exhibition, scheduled to conclude on May 10, as "a film reel of our past," offering an immersive step back in time to explore the role of museums and the curatorial process itself.
