A dazzling new exhibition devoted to the fashion legacy of Marie Antoinette is opening at London’s V&A Museum this week. Titled Marie Antoinette Style, it is the first major UK exhibition dedicated to France’s ill-fated 18th-century queen, who became one of the most iconic and controversial figures of her time. Known for her opulent taste in jewels, footwear, and gowns, Marie Antoinette shaped an enduring aesthetic that continues to inspire designers, filmmakers, and fashion lovers today.
Born into the Austrian royal family, she married King Louis XVI of France and quickly became a central figure at the French court. Her lavish style won admiration but also criticism, and she ultimately became a symbol of excess at a time of political upheaval. Following the outbreak of the French Revolution, both she and Louis XVI were overthrown and executed in 1793. She was only 37 years old at the time of her death.
Curator Sarah Grant described the show as “an exploration of the style shaped by the most fashionable queen in history, Marie Antoinette.” Covering the period from her arrival in France in 1770 until her death, the exhibition also looks at how her influence has lived on long after the Revolution.
The exhibition showcases around 250 objects, including some of Marie Antoinette’s personal belongings such as her exquisite jewelry, silk shoes, and an eau de cologne bottle. Also on display are pieces of porcelain, items of furniture, and a dinner service, many on loan from the Palace of Versailles. Visitors can view rare garments from the period, portraits of the queen, and even her prison chemise. A handwritten note from her final days before execution provides an intimate glimpse into her life at the end of the monarchy.
The influence of Marie Antoinette’s style on contemporary culture is also highlighted. Costumes designed for Sofia Coppola’s 2006 film Marie Antoinette, in which Kirsten Dunst portrayed the queen, are among the standout pieces. Modern interpretations by leading fashion designers and shoemakers show how her love of extravagance, pastels, and ornamentation continues to echo in present-day fashion.
Grant emphasized that her legacy remains strong: “Her influence has been so continuous. It’s continued ever since her death and continues now.”
Marie Antoinette Style opens on Saturday at the V&A and will run until March, inviting audiences to rediscover the queen who defined a timeless aesthetic of luxury, elegance, and theatricality.
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