This Victoria&Albert Museum exhibition examines the influence of the most fashionable queen in history, Marie Antoinette, on design, fashion, film, and art over the last 250 years.
Her love for beautiful objects and clothes has inspired many over the centuries, and she remains an idol in the fashion world until this day.
Marie Antoinette was born an Austrian princess and married King Louis XVI in 1770, becoming the Queen of France at the age of 15.
The young Queen loved fashion and devoted a lot of time to developing her own personal style.
Marie Antoinette was known for rejecting the court’s fashion choices and going through with her own ideas.
Her style was defined by extravagant silhouettes, intricate hairstyles and luxurious fabrics.
It was thanks to her influence that court fashion moved away from stiff rigid dresses to more relaxed flowing styles.
The queen also introduced vibrant pastel colours such as blues, pinks and lilacs which could be found in dresses but also accessories like fans and gloves.
The brave and unusual choices she made in fashion still inspire and motivate people to create extraordinary designs, and to not shy away from being extravagant.
Marie Antoinette was first liked by the public but by the time the French Revolution arrived she had become a figure of public scrutiny, due to her extravagant lifestyle.
The revolution reached its peak with the execution of King Louis XVI in 1793 for crimes against France which also led to a trial for the French Queen.
She was charged with the death penalty, imprisoned and separated from her children.
History’s first fashion influencer continues to inspire designers and her influences can be still be seen on today’s catwalks.
Some of the most prominent interpreter’s of the queen’s fashion include Vivienne Westwood, John Galliano and Manolo Blahnik.
Blahnik designed the shoes for Sofia Copolla’s film Marie Antoinette and his brand sponsors the V&A exhibition.
Visitors can see the exhibition until 22 March 2026 and the museum advises to book a slot beforehand.
Featured image credit: Vivien Lynn von der Lippe
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