Fashion in the 18th century, a fantasized heritage: an exhibition on the Age of Enlightenment at the Palais Galliera

From March 14 to July 12, 2026, the Palais Galliera delves into women's fashion during the Age of Enlightenment with its exhibition "Fashion in the 18th Century: A Fantasized Legacy," alongside an exhibition on craftsmanship. Often perceived as a distant, even dusty century, it nevertheless represents a major step in the evolution of women's appearance. Through seventy silhouettes, fashion accessories, textiles, graphic arts, and photographs, visitors will discover the characteristics of women's fashion at that time.

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Silhouettes, fabrics and hairstyles diversified, popularized by the fashion press. In the second half of the 19th and early 20th centuries, references to Enlightenment fashion were numerous, with more contemporary reinterpretations. At the end of the 1940s, French couturiersturned once again to this century and its heritage, which enabled them to promote French know-how in the luxury sector.

You'll discover never-before-seen pieces such as the exceptional corset worn by Queen Marie-Antoinette, as the exhibition compares 18th-century silhouettes with those of later centuries, as well as iconic outfits by contemporary designers inspired by the Age of Enlightenment, such as Chanel, Dior, Christian Lacroix, or Nicolas Ghesquière for Balenciaga and Vuitton.