The Fashion Exhibitions not to be Missed this 2025

The beginning of 2025 means many of us embark on new resolutions or deciding our ‘Ins and Outs’ for the upcoming year. Well, fashion exhibitions are definitely ‘in’ this year, and it's time to plan ahead in our calendars to catch as many as possible as the year rolls on. These exhibitions allow you to move up-close to the intricacy and beauty created by some of fashions most sought-after designers. Around London, and further across the globe, these museums are curating never-before seen collections and staging immersive experiences that redefine how we view fashion and design. Wandering through these exhibits of inspired creativity and transporting yourself through different eras of style history certainly makes for a peaceful way to spend a weekend. Whether that be immersing yourself in the Vogue Lightroom exhibition this weekend or eagerly awaiting the National Portrait Gallery’s Cecil Beaton showcase this autumn, we have you set for the fashion-focused year ahead.

Vogue: Inventing the Runway - Lightroom

If you want to experience fashion from every angle, the immersive exhibition staged by Lightroom is a must. Showcasing the history of runways by featuring interactive spaces from over 60 famous houses designers, including Chanel, Louis Vuitton and Vivienne Westwood, Lightroom offers a 360-degree canvas to appreciate centuries of luxury fashion history. Narrated by Cate Blanchett, the exhibition takes audiences on a journey through historical fashion shows, featuring captivating visuals and engaging soundtracks from classical to pop music. Alongside the exhibition, Lightroom is hosting an Intimate Events Series titled ‘Vogue Conversations’. These will feature thought-provoking conversations with leaders of the fashion world, beginning on the 14 January with Simone Rocha and running till the exhibition’s closure.

Tickets for the exhibition start from £25 and to join for the 'Vogue Conversations' talks choose either the 17:00 or 17:30 entry.

Running until 26 April 2025.

Immerse yourself in the innovation of Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana as their collections travel from Italy to France. After receiving critical and commercial success at the Palazzo Reale, Milan, the Grand Palais is next to stage the extensive exhibition of unique designs from the Alta Moda, Alta Sartoria and Alta Gioielleria collections. Journey through the 10-room exhibit, tracking the Italian iconicity of Dolce&Gabanna style, from conception through to the creation of more than 200 pieces. The exhibition features both archival and new collections alongside works of visual artists whose creativity reflects the core of Dolce&Gabbana designs.

Tickets are available now and start from €17,00.

Running from 10 January – 31 March 2025.

Tate Modern’s new exhibit offers a window into the life of Australian performance artist and fashion designer Leigh Bowery. The exhibition chronicles the life and work of Bowery’s flamboyant and boundary-pushing creativity that championed individualism. The exhibition documents Bowery’s life from his arrival into London’s underground club scene, as he developed into a ground-breaking creative that influenced how we perceive modern fashion and popular culture. The collection features Bowery’s own avant-garde fashion designs and moves into his exploration of personal portraits in collaboration with other artists, notably Lucien Freud and Charles Atlas, in addition to his experimentalism with the body as its own art form.

Tickets are available now for £18.00 or free for Tate Members.

Running from 27 February – 2 September 2025.

The King’s Gallery presents a regal rewind through history in its upcoming exhibition spotlighting the opulent lifestyles of Edwardian Royalty. The collection focuses on the possessions from two royal marriages, King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra and King George V and Queen Mary. Curated by Kathryn Jones, more than 300 items will be displayed in the gallery, including historic pieces of jewellery and clothing. The two royal couples were famed for their extravagant style, and the many riches of Edwardian royalty will be available for close examination. Including a first-time display of Queen Mary’s ‘Love Trophy’ Collar necklace. The collection will feature pieces from many prominent luxury brands including Cartier and Fabergé.

Tickets are on sale now for £19.00

Running 11 April – 23 November 2025.

The V&A is staging a sparkling spectacle this year, delivering the first major exhibition of Cartier in 30 years. Since its creation, the Maison has positioned itself as a powerhouse of luxury jewellery and watch design. The expansive collection, temporarily housed within the South Kensington Museum, will celebrate the evolution of Cartier by showcasing the intricacy and elegance of its pieces. With 350 opulent objects on display, the exhibit will feature jewels, gemstones, watches, and clocks from the Cartier collection, alongside unseen drawings pulled from the archives of both the V&A and the Maison of Cartier itself.

Tickets will be available soon via the V&A or free entry for V&A Members.

Running from 12 April - 16 November 2025.

The Met Gala is one of fashion's most anticipated events each year, with the fundraiser launching the start of The Costume Institutes annual exhibition. On the iconic steps of the Met, famed guests, paired with designers and brands, will showcase incredible works of fashion channelling a specific theme. Announced last October, this year’s Met Gala theme was revealed to be Superfine: Tailoring Black Style, exploring the role of Black dandyism in the development of fashion. The exhibition, housed in The Metropolitan Museum of Art is inspired by the award-winning novel of its guest curator, Professor Monica L. Miller, and her extensive research into the sartorial style of Black dandies. Featuring both historical and contemporary designers, the Met’s curations look to explore both the aesthetic and political aspects of this ever-evolving style. A trip to New York is definitely recommended, as this year’s exhibition is not one to miss.

This exhibition is free with museum admission.

Running 10 May – 26 October 2025

It is time to celebrate all things 80s with the Design Museum's deep dive into the world behind Covent Garden’s Blitz club. Frequented by the biggest names in music throughout the decade, Blitz club became synonymous for self-expression through the mediums of music and fashion. The exhibition promises an explosion of culture, from trailblazing garments to the progressive art and graphic design that secured Blitz as the cutting-edge late-night spot of 1980s London. Developed in close collaboration with contemporary visitors of the club, many items in the collection have never been publicly displayed before.

Tickets will be available soon via The Design Museum.

Running from 19 September 2025 - 29 March 2026.

Marie Antoinette, a name associated with the overthrow of the French monarchy and her infamous line ‘Let them eat cake’. This year, however, it is fashion that is reigniting conversations around Marie Antoinette. As the V&A prepares to welcome a new exhibition to the stage, dissecting the fashion influence of Antoinette as one of history’s most stylish royals. The notorious Queen, known for her Rococo clothing featuring pale fabrics and ornate jewels, has continuously influenced fashion design over the past 250 years with her style. The collective from the V&A explores this influence through a range of mediums, and looks to explore why couture continues to channel the style legacy of France’s most complex royal.

Tickets will be available soon via the V&A or free entry for V&A Members.

Running 20 September 2025 – 22 March 2026

Curated by Robin Muir, the National Portrait Gallery presents a retrospective exhibition of photographer Cecil Beaton through the lens of fashion and costume design. Renowned for capturing the elegance and beauty of high society, the collection promises to showcase the very best of Beaton’s exquisite images. The exhibition also celebrates his work in film, in particular his set and Oscar-winning costume designs. The collection will be the first that focuses solely on Beaton’s contribution to the fashion world and will be accompanied by a new publication from Muir of the showcase.

Tickets will be available soon via The National Portrait Gallery.

Running 9 October 2025 - 11 January 2026.