From 'Naomi In Fashion' to 'The World of Tim Burton', these are the best fashion exhibitions around the world

Lynda Roscoe Hartigan, the executive director and chief curator of the Peabody Essex Museum, put it perfectly when she said, “Museums offer us an environment in which people, ideas, life experiences, and feelings can come together across time, place, and cultures. We seek out art and creative expression to feel grounded, to feel awe, and, yes, to question and understand who we are and who we can become through our shared humanity.” Whether it’s a way of understanding history through garments or a desire to escape into the fantasy that beautiful clothing can conjure up, nothing quite beats seeing the magic of groundbreaking silhouettes and storytelling up, close, and personal. In our rapidly changing world, museums, galleries, and historical landmarks house a treasure trove of inspiration as a means of cultural expression to stimulate conversation. From designer retrospectives to haute couture archives, there is a wealth of enlightening history to discover at exhibitions around the world this year.

NAOMI: IN FASHION (VICTORIA AND ALBERT MUSEUM, LONDON)

A first-of-its-kind retrospective that chronicles the spectacular 40-year career of one of the original 90s supermodels: Naomi Campbell. Bringing together over 100 ready-to-wear and haute couture pieces from Campbell’s extensive fashion archive, personal ephemera, and striking imagery spanning decades, Sonnet Stanfill, senior curator of fashion at theV&A, has created a multi-sensory journey through the milestones of a singular career—one that has seen Campbell form long-standing collaborative relationships with designers, including Alexander McQueen, Azzedine Alaïa, Jean Paul Gaultier, Karl Lagerfeld, and leading photographers like Steven Meisel, Peter Lindbergh, Nick Knight, and more. The tribute exhibition will also recognise her activism and philanthropic endeavours, giving a deeper insight into the star’s world beyond the runway.

Running till April 6, 2025.

YUIMA NAKAZATO: BEYOND COUTURE (LA CITÉ DE LA DENTELLE ET DE LA MODE, CALAIS)

Presented by the Museum of Lace and Fashion, avant-garde couturier Yuima Nakazato’s first monographic exhibition brings together more than 50 looks selected from the archives of every season that the eponymous brand has presented at Haute CoutureWeek in Paris from 2016 to 2024, emphasising his blend of traditional Japanese craftsmanship, cutting-edge technology, and ecological consciousness. A rare insight into several never-seen-before designs—from drawings to experimental fabric samples, photos, and accessories—will be displayed to reveal the creative process behind Nakazato’s poetic vision and dedication to the future of sustainable fashion.

Running till January 5, 2025.

BARBIE: THE EXHIBITION (THE DESIGN MUSEUM, LONDON)

If you’re still reeling from the tidal wave of Barbiecore unleashed by Greta Gerwig’s cinematic masterpiece last summer, don’t turn away just yet. Taking over the Design Museum with a behind-the-scenes look into the creation of her pink plastic universe, the exhibition charts society’s cultural, design, fashion, and body-image changes—reflected in the life of the world’s most iconic doll. Celebrating the 65th anniversary of the historic brand, the showcase traces the design evolution and Barbie legacy that started in 1959 by Ruth Handler through iridescent, colourful plinths and cylindrical toy packaging-style cases displaying past and present-day Barbies. Curated by Danielle Thom, the display also features 250 remarkable objects, pop-inspired accessories, colonial-style architecture, and mid-century modern furniture, including the first-ever Barbie Dreamhouse TM from 1962, which is a testament to her cultural presence and monumentality.

Running till February 23, 2025.

LA MODE EN MOUVEMENT (PALAIS GALLIERA, PARIS)

Palais Galliera’s second iteration of the chronological exhibition, Fashion On The Move, traces the history of fashion from the 18th century to the present day through the museum’s collections while also developing a transversal theme on the body in movement. A total of 200 works of art will be on display, allowing visitors to (re)discover and explore the masculinisation of women’s clothing and the advent of sportswear in everyday wardrobes. Swimming costumes, cycling outfits, side-saddle habits, motoring coats, accessories, jogging suits, and sneakers—all reflect the distinct silhouettes of three centuries of fashion history.

Running till September 7, 2025.

THE WORLD OF TIM BURTON (THE DESIGN MUSEUM, LONDON)

Delve into the fantastical world of Tim Burton in this major exhibition that explores his otherworldly creations and key collaborations with designers. Most well-known for his cinematic work and internationally recognised as a master of the comically grotesque and the endearing misfit, the show will display the full extent of Burton’s production as an illustrator, painter, photographer, and author. Representing the multi-disciplinary artist’s creative undertakings from childhood to the present day, the collection features over 600 drawings, paintings, photographs, sketchbooks, moving-image works, sculptural installations, and set and costume designs that resonate with the distinctive characters and worlds of his art and films. Comprised of never-before-exhibited works from his signature films and projects, including Beetlejuice (1988), Batman (1989), and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005), as well as his more recent works, such as the Netflix series Wednesday (2022), TheWorld of Tim Burton is a deeply engaging experience that offers a rare glimpse into his very personal and singular output.

Running till April 21, 2025.

ICE COLD: AN EXHIBITION OF HIP-HOP JEWELLERY (AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY, NEW YORK)

Marking the 50th anniversary of hip-hop as a global cultural phenomenon, Ice Cold highlights the design evolution of 68 outstanding pieces of jewellery in hip-hop over the past five decades. The showcase celebrates and contextualises the custom bling that artists like Bad Bunny, Cardi B, Slick Rick, A$AP Rocky, Tyler The Creator, Pharrell, and Ghostface Killah have worn as part of their image-making. From the gold pendant version of the Adidas Superstars worn by Run-DMC, Notorious B.I.G.’s iconic gold Jesus piece, and Nicki Minaj’s Barbie pendant to Drake’s “Crown Jewel of Toronto,” this is an all-star line-up of rapper’s delights that go way beyond brilliantly audacious designs to illuminate hip-hop jewellery as part of a multi-layered trajectory of style, politics, and sociocultural trends.

Running till January 5, 2025.

DEBUT FASHION EXHIBITION AT LOUVRE, PARIS

For the first time in history, fashion in its broad sense has been chosen by The Louvre Museum as the theme of one of its temporary exhibitions. Showcasing the seamless blend of creativity and craftsmanship that defines the worlds of both art and fashion, the display will uncover iconic pieces from renowned designers alongside a selection of historical artefacts from the Byzantine era to the Second French Empire. The monumental exhibition will feature over 65 fashion ensembles and 30 accessories created by 40 different designers, both historical and emerging, including Karl Lagerfeld and Yohji Yamamoto, who have shaped and sustained fashion’s legacy. As we explore this unique convergence, visitors will have the privilege of witnessing a blend of past, present, tradition, and innovation highlighted by the evolution of fashion as an art form. “With this project, we aim to understand why museums have been of interest and importance to renowned couturiers and how our collections can inspire the works of other designers,” shares Olivier Gabet, Director of the Louvre’s Department of Decorative Arts.

Running from January 24, 2025 to July 21, 2025.

FUTURE OBSERVATORY: TOMORROW’S WARDROBE [THE DESIGN MUSEUM, LONDON]

Tomorrow’s Wardrobe brings together a diversity of designers, including Stella McCartney, Ponda, Ahluwalia, Salomon, Ranra, Phoebe English, and Vivobarefoot, from across the fashion industry who are revolutionising the way we create, make, and wear clothes. Curated by Future Observatory, the exhibition is dedicated to design research on addressing the ongoing environmental crisis, featuring a mix of interactive works, clothes, fashion articles, objects, and tools of the past and future. Moving from fabric landscapes to design studios to individual garments, the display presents a future built from both high-tech and low-tech tools: Sewing machines, robotic arms, artificial intelligence, digital IDs, upcycling, recycling, and more. Running till August 2025.

All images: Getty Images 

This piece originally appeared in the October-November print edition of Harper's Bazaar India

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