Haute couture has typically been reserved for the runways—and the one per cent. But this summer, fine design and tailoring are exposing themselves to the masses, thanks to exhibits in some of the world’s most famous museums. Classic maisons of differing métiers as well as prolific visual artists and influential social movements are at the heart of shows that serve to both illuminate and educate. From celebrating the Black Dandy at The Met to uncovering the dazzling art of Cartier at the Louvre and exploring the multiple meanings of red at Rome’s PM23, this is the summer to get immersed in all things haute.
Superfine: Tailoring Black Style, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City
The Costume Institute, housed in New York’s hallowed Metropolitan Museum of Art, is arguably the world’s staunchest purveyor of fashion-as-art. Intrinsically linked to the industry’s biggest calendar event—the Met Gala—its annual exhibit is renowned for shining a light on the cultural and social contexts within the realm of fashion. Superfine: Tailoring Black Style is an exploration of Black style over 300 years through the lens of dandyism. Marked for its unapologetic flair, it’s a style of dress that has gone on to inform everything from formal wear to present-day street style. Superfine explores dandyism, from its influential roots in the African and European traditions to its modern aesthetic, highlighting its beginnings as an act of degradation by slave owners to its evolution of reclamation by the community and people.
On now until Oct. 26, 2025
Paul Poiret: Fashion is a Feast, Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Paris
It wouldn’t be overstating things to call Paul Poiret a feminist for having liberated women from the corset in the early 20th century. Indeed, he’s celebrated for revolutionizing the way designers viewed and dressed the female form. A master of movement, he used lightweight fabrics like silk muslin and chiffon in saturated hues, and broke with the S-shaped silhouette in fashion by ushering the empire waist into the Roaring Twenties. His work went on to influence visionaries like Christian Dior. In the first comprehensive showcase celebrating Poiret’s life and legacy, Paris’s Musée des Arts Décoratifs dives into the designer’s work and eccentric lifestyle, presenting a 360-degree view of an artist ahead of his time.
On now until Jan. 11, 2026
Cartier, V&A South Kensington, London
Trinity. Panthère. Juste un Clou. Ballon Bleu. These are among the seminal collections Cartier is renowned for—not to mention Elizabeth Taylor’s “Red Fire” ruby necklace and Wallis Simpson’s amethyst bib necklace. It’s no wonder London’s V&A South Kensington has mounted an exhibit celebrating the iconic French jewellery brand. Featuring more than 350 pieces from the luxury house’s cache, including iconic items such as the mysterious Dali-esque Crash Watch (1967), the Panthère Clip Brooch (1949), which was sold to the Duke of Windsor, and countless other diamond-encrusted tiaras, bracelets, rings and objets, it’s a dazzling way to spend a day in rainy London.
On now until Nov. 16, 2025
Orrizonti Rosso, PM23, Rome
The latest display at Rome’s PM23 turns the fashion show somewhat on its head, as its focus is on the nuances and complexities of the colour red. Exhibited in concert with Valentino Garavani’s iconic creations, it features over 80 varying works, from sculptures and paintings to couture designs, inviting viewers to immerse themselves in the emotional and historic depths of the colour red. One thing is certain: you’ll leave this space with a new perspective and understanding of this sumptuous hue.
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On now until Aug. 31, 2025
Louvre Couture, Art & Fashion: Statement Pieces, Louvre Museum, Paris
Fashion walks the line between art and commerce, and its influence on contemporary artists has long been underestimated as a result. This exhibit situates the ongoing conversation between the fashion and art worlds in context, highlighting existing and historic parallels between both metiers. Iconic pieces designed by the likes of Balenciaga, Chanel and Schiaparelli by Daniel Roseberry are displayed alongside tapestries, armour, jewels, porcelain and other objects that encapsulate French craftsmanship, connecting the threads between the work of great fashion designers and their artistic counterparts. Presented in the Department of Decorative Art, Louvre Couture, Art & Fashion offers visitors an opportunity to observe and understand the unique ways art and fashion work in tandem to create era-defining aesthetics.
On now until Aug. 24, 2025
