FASHION IN THE 18TH CENTURY, A FANTASIZED LEGACY

The Palais Galliera, Museum of Fashion of the City of Paris, presents a new exhibition dedicated to the lasting influence of the eighteenth century on contemporary fashion imagery.
Titled “Fashion in the 18th Century, a Fantasized Legacy”, the exhibition is on view in Paris from March 14 to July 12 2026 and offers a sensitive and aesthetic reading of a period that continues to inspire modern creation.
Far from a purely historical perspective, the exhibition explores how this era has been idealized, reinterpreted and reinvented over time.

Through a carefully curated journey combining period garments, precious accessories, rare textiles and iconographic works, visitors discover a wardrobe defined by exuberant volumes, rich materials and refined details.
Pannier dresses, corsets, delicate embroidery and luminous silks outline a spectacular silhouette that has deeply shaped our perception of luxury and elegance.
These codes are placed in dialogue with their later reinterpretations, revealing how the eighteenth century became a recurring and often idealized source of inspiration throughout fashion history.

The exhibition questions the notion of a fantasized legacy, showing how fashion transforms the past into a space of projection and desire.
Between memory and invention, the eighteenth century emerges as a reservoir of images, forms and narratives that continue to fuel contemporary creativity.
An elegant and thoughtful exhibition that highlights the constant dialogue between history and fashion, reminding us that clothing is also a cultural and symbolic language.