8 fashion exhibitions to see this summer

From Dolce &Gabbana to Biba history, from Yohji Yamamoto to the Bristish Fashion icons or Naomi Campbell iconic moments, now is the perfect time to go and see these beautiful fashion exhibitions. Pick your favourite from 8 fashion exhibitions to see this summer. 

1. “From the Heart to the Hands: Dolce&Gabbana”. Just wonderful! An immersive exploration into the narrative behind Dolce&Gabbana’s couture collections. I have discovered the sources that spark the designers’ inspiration and learn about the intricate craftsmanship that goes into the final pieces, embodying the values of Fatto a Mano – or hand-made. Featuring one-off items from their Alta Moda, Alta Sartoria and Alta Gioielleria collections, each room of the exhibition displays Dolce&Gabbana’s bespoke creations against a backdrop of spectacular installations. (From 7 April to 31 July at the Palazzo Reale, Milan, Italy) 

2. “Viktor&Rolf: Fashion Statements”. The first major retrospective on Dutch fashion artists Viktor&Rolf in Germany. Reflecting the duo’s passions, obsessions and singular vision, the spectacular scenography showcases more than 100 of their most daring creations—many exhibited for the first time—along with numerous videos, sketches, the timeless fragrances like Flowerbomb and Spicebomb, porcelain dolls dressed in the designers’ iconic creations, and photographs by renowned visual artists like Andreas Gursky, Ellen von Unwerth and Herb Ritts. (February 23–October 6, 2024, Kunsthalle München, Germany) 

3. 10·Corso·Como and Yohji Yamamoto – exhibition “Yohji Yamamoto. Letter to the future”. The project curated by Alessio de′ Navasques – curator and professor of Fashion Archives at Sapienza University of Rome – gathers a dialogue between iconic pieces from the runway, recent and future collections. The exhibition itinerary examines the body of work of the designer who made poetry of structured, yet ethereal, cut and reassembled pieces – where he penetrates the space of our thoughts, our emotions – his unmistakable signature. (16 May – 31 July 2024, 10·Corso·Como Gallery, Milan, Italy)

4. The “Paolo Roversi” exhibition at the Palais Galliera features photographs taken over a career of 50 years. This exhibition brings together 140 works, including previously unseen images, Polaroid prints and archives (magazines, catalogues, etc.) that give an insight into Paolo Roversi’s professional and artistic career. The scenography takes visitors on a poetic journey out of the shade and into the light. (16 March 2024 – 14 July 2024, Palais Galliera, Paris, France)

5. “The Biba Story”, 1964-1975. The Biba Story explores how fashion phenomenon Biba blossomed to become the world’s first lifestyle label, sparking a revolution in how people shopped and how Biba earned its spot as the brand that epitomises 1960s and 1970s fashion. The exhibition focuses on the years 1964, when the first Biba boutique opened, to 1975, when the legendary Big Biba closed its doors to the public. (22 March – 8 September 2024, Fashion Textile Museum, London, England)

6. “Icons of British Fashion” exhibition features a line-up of world-class designers and labels, with each fashion house taking over one of our significant rooms. Each space along the visitor route in the 300-year-old Palace pays homage to a British fashion icon. This exhibition celebrates fashion from the past through to the present day and features bespoke designs and loans from some huge names in the fashion world – Barbour, Lulu Guinness, Stella McCartney, Stephen Jones Millinery for Christian Dior, Temperley London, Terry de Havilland, Vivienne Westwood etc. (23rd March – 30th June 2024, Blenheim Palace, England)

7. “Lisa Fonssagrives-Penn — Fashion Icon” presents the personal collection of the greatest model of her time. Featuring almost 150 prints made between 1935 and 1955 by masters of photography such as Horst P. Horst, Irving Penn, Louise Dahl-Wolfe and Erwin Blumenfeld, the exhibition offers a glimpse into the golden age of fashion photography, magnified by an exceptional personality. (28 February – 26 May 2024, MEP – Maison Européenne de la. Photographie, Paris, France) 

8. “Naomi: In Fashion”. The first exhibition of its kind exploring the extraordinary career of fashion model Naomi Campbell. Through the work of leading global designers and photographers we celebrate her creative collaborations, activism and far-reaching cultural impact. Highlights will include a dramatic 1989 Thierry Mugler car-inspired corset, Campbell’s look from Sarah Burton’s last Alexander McQueen show, a pink Valentino ensemble worn at the 2019 Met Gala and that famous pair of staggeringly high Vivienne Westwood platform shoes worn by Campbell during her now-iconic 1993 catwalk fall. (22 June 2024 – 6 April 2025 at V&A Museum, London, England)