Paris Couture

Featuring iconic designers including Christian Dior, Cristóbal Balenciaga, Elsa Schiaparelli, and Madeleine Vionnet, “Paris Couture” traces the evolution of luxury across the 20th century, from the theatrical origins of haute couture to its mid-century golden age and its continued reinvention today.

“This exhibition makes a clear case for haute couture as one of the defining art forms of the modern era,” said Katie Luber, Nivin and Duncan MacMillan Director and President of Mia. “Visitors will encounter the garments as they were meant to be experienced: intimately, and with close attention to their extraordinary craftsmanship. ‘Paris Couture’ holds a distinguished collection of historic textiles but has not previously presented a major survey of 20th-century haute couture. This exhibit positions Mia at the forefront of an international conversation about fashion’s place in the museum.”

Drawn from one of only a few major institutional couture collections in the world, “Paris Couture” offers access rarely seen in the United States, particularly in the Midwest. The exhibition invites visitors to see the pleats, stitches, beads, and feathers that define couture at its highest level.

“From the social gatherings of the turn of the 20th century to the runways of today’s fashion weeks, the language of Haute Couture continues to captivate and inspire,” said Émilie Hammen, Director of Palais Galliera. “Paris Couture exemplifies Mia’s commitment to presenting global art at the highest level while bringing exceptional and rare examples of fashion to Minneapolis and invites audiences to experience its beauty, innovation, and artistry in a deeply personal way.”

Highlights include Elsa Schiaparelli’s shocking pink evening cape of 1938, embroidered on the back by Maison Lesage with sequins and gold thread to create a radiant sunburst. The work was made for the Paris editor of Harper’s Bazaar, Daisy Fellowes (1890–1962), one of Schiaparelli’s greatest clients.

Additional highlights include Christian Dior’s intricately embellished “Palmyre” dress (1952), commissioned and worn by Wallis Simpson, shimmering with sequins, pearls, and crystals, and a sculptural 1967 ensemble by Cristóbal Balenciaga, featuring his signature gazar fabric and dramatic use of shape and texture.

The show also includes a contemporary look from the Spring 2026 couture collections. Matthieu Blazy infused the essence of Gabrielle Chanel, maintaining her vision of femininity in which garments empower rather than embellish. That spirit also appears in the fusion of exquisite craftsmanship with contemporary art and ideas. Here, a jacket and dress are constructed from thousands of translucent fabric scales that seem to float weightlessly.

“Paris Couture” will be on view at the Minneapolis Institute of Art until January 17, 2027. The exhibit will then travel to the Saint Louis Art Museum, where it will be on view from March 6 to June 13, 2027. A fully illustrated catalogue, published by the Minneapolis Institute of Art, will accompany the exhibition.