Highlights on our 2017 exhibitions

Dalida's red velvet dress by Jean Dessès, 1958. © Julien Vidal / Galliera / Roger-Viollet; Balenciaga, black crepe dress, 1964. © E. Emo et A. Llaurency / Galliera / Roger-Viollet; Mariano Fortuny, Pleated silk Delphos dress and silk velvet coat, around 1930. © L. Degrâces et P. Ladet / Galliera / Roger-Viollet

Dalida's red velvet dress by Jean Dessès, 1958. © Julien Vidal / Galliera / Roger-Viollet; Balenciaga, black crepe dress, 1964. © E. Emo et A. Llaurency / Galliera / Roger-Viollet; Mariano Fortuny, Pleated silk "Delphos" dress and silk velvet coat, around 1930. © L. Degrâces et P. Ladet / Galliera / Roger-Viollet

The Palais Galliera proposes an ambitious 2017 program of four exhibitions, in situ as well as extra-muros, to highlight its precious collections.

Starting April 27th, the Palais Galliera will pay homage to the very popular singer, Dalida with an exhibition of her “On and Off-Stage” wardrobe, recently donated to the museum by her brother Orlando. The singer was a fervent lover of fashion : glamorous in a red velvet 1950’s dress by Jacques Esterel or a Balmain 70’s pinafore dress, chic and understated in Loris Azarro, dazzling in 80’s sequined disco outfits by Michel Fresnay or classical and timeless in Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche… Robert Carsen, the stage and artistic director of this exhibition, has chosen to illustrate her extraordinary style with the presentation of a series of her musical performances.

2017 will also be the year to celebrate the Spanish influence on fashion and textile history with the cooperation of the Museo del Traje in Madrid.

The “Balenciaga, l’oeuvre au noir” exhibition at the musée Bourdelle, opening on March 8th, marks the tribute Palais Galliera pays to “the most Couture of Couturiers”. This exhibition resonates with the black tones favored by Cristobal Balenciaga that underline in particular the outstanding tailoring structure of his work and the mastery of his use of fabrics.

On June 21st, the Maison de Victor Hugo will open its doors to the “Spanish costumes: darkness and light” exhibition. For the first time in Paris a large selection of garments and accessories from the end of the 18t and early 20th century will be displayed to enable visitors to discover the opulence of each province of Spain’s traditional costumes. They will be mirrored by some 40 remarkable photographs by José Ortiz Echagüe.

Finally on October 4th, the Palais Galliera, will present the first Paris retrospective of Mariano Fortuny’s work with a hundred pieces from the Museo del Traje, the Museo Fortuny in Venice and the Palais Galliera collections. The exhibition will emphasize the great variety of his inspirations and the amazing talent he applied to textile and fashion. The shimmering fluidness of the fabrics he created reflects his passionate quest for the liberation of the body and the ultimate luxury of comfort. A plunge into timeless elegance.