Fashion exhibitions to see in London in autumn 2024 to 2025
London has a range of notable art exhibitions this autumn, with several focusing on fashion. Key highlights include an exhibition dedicated to Naomi Campbell and her iconic outfits from her 40-year career, Deborah Turbeville’s exploration of fashion photography, and upcoming shows on Maria Antoinette and Cartier. Here’s our guide to the fashion exhibitions in London this autumn and a preview of those to look out for in 2025.
Naomi: In Fashion
NAOMI is at the V&A, 22 June 2024 – 6 April 2025. Photographer Marco Bahler.
#FLODown: NAOMI: In Fashion at the V&A celebrates Naomi Campbell’s extraordinary 40-year career, featuring over 100 iconic outfits, including her look from Sarah Burton’s final Alexander McQueen show, the pink Valentino ensemble from the 2019 Met Gala, and the infamous Vivienne Westwood platform shoes worn during her famous 1993 catwalk fall. Discover pieces from designers such as Versace, Anna Sui, Azzedine Alaïa, Burberry, Chanel, Jean Paul Gaultier, and Yves Saint Laurent. Gain insights into Campbell's early career, her impactful activism, and her support for emerging creatives, all alongside striking fashion photography. Click here for a visual preview.
Date: 22 June 2024 - 6 April 2025. Location: V&A South, Kensington, Cromwell Road, London, SW7 2RL. Price: £18. Concessions available. Book now.
Deborah Turbeville: Photocollage
Deborah Turbeville, Versailles, from the series “Unseen Ver- sailles,” Versailles, France 1980. © Deborah Turbeville/MUUS Collection.
#FLODown: This exhibition highlights Deborah Turbeville’s dreamlike and melancholic style, showcasing her innovative approach to fashion photography from the 1970s onwards. Rejecting the glamorous aesthetic of the time, Turbeville’s work features enigmatic female figures and decaying landscapes, transforming fashion imagery into avant-garde art. The exhibition presents her experimental techniques, where she manipulated photographs through cutting, tearing, and collage. It offers a fresh perspective on her pioneering contribution to photography.
Date: 9 October 2024 – 23 February 2025. Location: The Photographers' Gallery, 16–18 Ramillies St, London W1F 7LW. Price: £10 (£7 concession). Advance: £8.50 (£6 concession). Members go free. Book now.
Outlaws: Fashion Renegades of 80s London
The Lore of LOVERBOY at Somerset House. Photo by MTotoe.
#FLODown: Outlaws: Fashion Renegades of 80s London highlights the impact of the iconic nightclub Taboo, founded by Leigh Bowery in 1985. Embracing a bold dress code, Taboo and its circle—featuring designers like BodyMap and Rachel Auburn, dancer Michael Clark, and pop star Boy George—ignited a scene that blended hedonism with creative innovation. The exhibition showcases original garments and accessories from Leigh Bowery and over thirty designers, including rare pieces from John Galliano and others, alongside photography, film, and artworks. It explores how the rebellious spirit of the club influenced experimental creativity in fashion and art.
Date: 4 October 2024 – 9 March 2025. Location: Fashion and Textile Museum, 83 Bermondsey Street, London SE1 3XF. Price: from £12.65. Book now.
Fragile Beauty: Photographs from the Sir Elton John and David Furnish Collection
David LaChapelle, Elton John, Egg On His Face, New York, 1999 © David LaChapelle.
#FLODown: Fragile Beauty: Photographs from the Sir Elton John and David Furnish Collection features over 300 rare prints from modern and contemporary photography. Spanning from the 1950s onwards, the exhibition showcases works by Nan Goldin, Robert Mapplethorpe, Cindy Sherman, and others. It explores themes such as fashion, celebrity, and significant historical moments like the Civil Rights movement and AIDS activism. The collection includes intimate portraits of icons like Marilyn Monroe and Aretha Franklin, celebrating both poignant and uplifting moments in time, alongside images of gay joy and resilience.
Click here for a visual preview.
Date: 18 May 2024 - 5 January 2025. Location: V&A South Kensington, Cromwell Rd, London SW7 2RL. Price: From £20. Concessions available. Under 12s Free. Book now.
Un-hide: Reframing Luxury
Miles Aldridge, Lookable Legs #1, 2002 © Miles Aldridge : Vogue Italia.
#FLODown: Un-hide: Reframing Luxury is an interactive exhibition by Modular by Mensah, on display at the V&A South Kensington from 14 September to 13 October 2024. This installation redefines leather’s role in contemporary design, moving beyond its traditional luxury connotations to highlight its potential as a medium for fostering social connections and sustainability. The exhibition explores leather’s lifecycle, celebrating its natural features through innovative design and craftsmanship. Founded by British Ghanaian designer Kusheda Mensah, Modular by Mensah aims to create objects and spaces that enhance human connections. Supported by Bridge of Weir Leather and Muirhead, this exhibition is part of the London Design Festival.
Date: 14 September – 13 October 2024. Location: V&A South Kensington, Cromwell Road, London, SW7 2RL. Price: Free. Book now.
Future Observatory: Tomorrow’s Wardrobe
Ahluwalia SS24. Ahluwalia.
#FLODown: Tomorrow’s Wardrobe is a free display at the Design Museum, exploring sustainable and stylish futures for fashion. This is the second exhibit in the museum’s new space dedicated to environmental design research, curated by Future Observatory, the museum’s national research programme for the green transition. The display features a diverse range of designers, including Ahluwalia, Stella McCartney and Phoebe English, who are transforming how clothes are created and worn. It addresses the significant environmental impact of the fashion industry and highlights innovative solutions such as upcycling, recycling, and advanced technology. Tomorrow’s Wardrobe showcases urgent research and innovation aimed at rethinking the fashion industry's practices.
Date: 14 — 22 September 2024. Location: The Design Museum, 224–238 Kensington High Street, London, W8 6AG. designmuseum.org.
Barbie Exhibition
1985 Day to Night Barbie. Photo Mattel, Inc.
#FLODown: A significant exhibition on Barbie™ will open at the Design Museum in July, coinciding with the doll's 65th anniversary in 2024. Curated by Danielle Thom and in collaboration with Mattel Inc., the exhibition will showcase Barbie's design evolution and cultural impact since Ruth Handler created her in 1959. With exclusive access to the Barbie archives in California, the exhibition will explore various design elements, including fashion, architecture, furniture, and vehicles.
Date: 5 July 2024 - 23 February 2025. Location: The Design Museum. 224-238 Kensington High St, London W8 6AG. Price: adult from £14.38. Children aged 6 to 15 from £7.19. Under 6s go free. Book now.
Upcoming
Marie Antoinette Style
Antoinetta, 2005 by Manolo Blahnik.
#FLODown: In September 2025, the V&A will present the UK’s first major exhibition dedicated to Marie Antoinette, exploring the enduring influence of her iconic style. Running until March 2026, the exhibition will showcase how the Queen of France’s fashion and interiors have shaped over 250 years of design, fashion, and decorative arts. Featuring a diverse array of objects and media, from couture gowns to audiovisual installations, the exhibition will delve into Marie Antoinette's impact on style and her lasting legacy as a complex and influential figure.
Date: 20 September 2025 – 22 March 2026. Location: V&A South Kensington, London. vam.ac.uk.
Cartier
Bandeau in emerald, ruby, sapphire, diamond andplatinum, Cartier London, 1928 (c) Victoria andAlbert Museum, London.
#FLODown: In 2025, the V&A South Kensington will present the UK’s first major Cartier exhibition in nearly 30 years. This extensive showcase will explore Cartier’s rise to prominence in jewellery and watchmaking, featuring over 350 objects that highlight its legacy. Visitors will see precious jewels, iconic watches, historic gemstones, and previously unseen archival drawings. The exhibition will reflect Cartier's evolution from its early 20th-century global expansion to its reputation as the 'jeweller of kings,' with items from the Royal Collection and other prestigious sources.
Date: 12 April 2025 – 16 November 2025. Location: V&A South Kensington, Cromwell Road, London, SW7 2RL.vam.ac.uk.
