Schiaparelli at the V&A: Clothes With a Plot Twist—and a Soundtrack

Sometimes a coat is a coat. Sometimes it turns around and reveals two faces having a conversation beneath a garden of roses. We know which one is going to interrupt our scrolling.

Schiaparelli: Fashion Becomes Art at London’s V&A follows Elsa Schiaparelli’s world from the 1920s through the house’s present-day work under Daniel Roseberry. The museum currently lists November 15, 2026, as the closing date. Its official exhibition page has the visiting details and a generous selection of objects to explore from home.

That extraordinary 1937 coat, created with Jean Cocteau and embroidery house Lesage, gives us plenty to linger over. The faces also outline a vase. The roses refuse to stay politely two-dimensional. It is a lovely example of clothing rewarding a second look instead of demanding a bigger logo.

And there is something for our ears. The V&A commissioned sound studio Father to build the exhibition’s soundscape, weaving recurring musical ideas into its surreal atmosphere. You can hear the music and read about its creation here. We love that meeting point: what you see changing how you listen, and what you hear changing how you look.

This is not our account of attending the exhibition. It is an invitation to get curious about the work—and borrow a little of its permission to play. An unexpected brooch, a strange little bag, or one ridiculous color combination can wake up clothes you already own. You do not need a couture appointment to let an outfit have a personality.

Our takeaway? Leave room for the detail that makes you smile. Fashion can be beautifully made and still have mischief in its pockets.

Detail of the 1937 coat by Elsa Schiaparelli, Jean Cocteau and Lesage, museum no. T.59-2005. © Victoria and Albert Museum, London.

Written by Leah