Surrey


<p>There’s always a brilliant museum or gallery to visit in the capital, granted, but this summer and autumn you can give your viewing a stylish twist by booking one of the capital’s many new fashion exhibitions, from Cartier’s dazzling diamonds at the V&amp;A to Royal garments on display at Kensington Palace.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-splash-a-century-of-swimming-and-style-the-design-museum-until-17-aug"><a href="https://designmuseum.org/exhibitions/splash-a-century-of-swimming-and-style" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Splash! A Century of Swimming and Style</a>, The Design Museum (until 17 Aug)</h2>



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<p>Wild swimmers and fashionistas will be united in their love of this stylish exhibition which has just one week left to run. Charting swimwear and the evolution of swimming from the 1920s through to the present day, there are more than 200 exhibits including Pamela Anderson’s eye-popping red&nbsp;<em>Baywatch&nbsp;</em>swimsuit, the first Olympic solo swimming gold medal won by a British woman, a selection of questionable men’s Speedos and one of the earliest surviving examples of a bikini. Tickets £14.38 if you want to take the plunge.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dress-codes-kensington-palace-until-20-nov"><a href="https://www.hrp.org.uk/kensington-palace/whats-on/dress-codes/#gs.k1ycuz" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dress Codes</a>, Kensington Palace (until 20 Nov)</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2025/02/Screenshot-2025-02-26-at-12.05.47-1024x786.png" alt="Dress codes at Kensington Palace " class="wp-image-9427" /></figure>



<p>Featuring treasures from the Royal Ceremonial Dress Collection, Muddy’s looking forward to seeing pieces worn by a young Queen Elizabeth II, Diana, Princess of Wales, Dame Vivienne Westwood, Princess Margaret and&nbsp;even Queen Victoria. Exploring the codes and conventions of royal clothing, and the powerful impact fashion can make when boundaries are pushed, it promises to be a must-see for fashion-lovers (we’re guessing Meghan Markle’s glam suits aren’t in the mix?). Tickets included in palace admission, £20.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-edwardians-age-of-elegance-king-s-gallery-buckingham-palace-until-23-nov"><a href="https://www.rct.uk/collection/exhibitions/the-edwardians-age-of-elegance/the-kings-gallery-buckingham-palace/the-dagmar-necklace-1863" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Edwardians: Age of Elegance</a>, King’s Gallery, Buckingham Palace (until 23 Nov)</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2025/02/Screenshot-2025-02-26-at-10.31.27-1024x1024.png" alt="The Dagmar necklace at the Royal Gallery " class="wp-image-9397" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The Dagmar necklace @ Royal Collection Trust</figcaption></figure>



<p>This one’s LAVISH. You’ll get to see more than&nbsp;300 objects from the Royal Collection on display (almost half for the first time) in Buck Pal, including works by the most renowned artists of the period, dazzling jewellery and opulent fashion. Don’t miss the diamond, pearl and gold Dagmar necklace, a wedding gift to Alexandra from Frederik VII of Denmark (sure beats a bangle from Pandora). Tickets £19.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cartier-at-the-v-amp-a-nbsp-until-16-nov"><a href="https://www.vam.ac.uk/exhibitions/cartier?srsltid=AfmBOoqam_lQ_B0NxtZJwzxayYHOOC2g7aUO7EZY1aJ8zcP_yXrf05wN" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cartier at the V&amp;A</a>&nbsp;(until 16 Nov)</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2025/02/2560-1024x610.jpg" alt="Cartier exhibition at the V&amp;A" class="wp-image-9396" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Image @ The V&amp;A Museum</figcaption></figure>



<p>Prepare to be dazzled. This unmissable retrospective of the legendary jeweller to the stars will contain a galaxy of precious gems including a rose clip brooch owned by Princess Margaret, Grace Kelly’s engagement ring and commissions from Queen Elizabeth II. With more than 350 exhibits to browse, it’s like the ultimate window shopping experience. Muddy predicts a resurgence of panther bangles and tank watches on Vinted. Tickets £27.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-design-amp-disability-the-v-amp-a-until-15-feb-2026"><a href="https://www.vam.ac.uk/exhibitions/design-and-disability?srsltid=AfmBOorW85Ks6nPTfYZ-68v8W44kf2WmBsJcpxXWwwpNbb-W96pEwbfe" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Design &amp; Disability</a>, The V&amp;A (until 15 Feb, 2026)</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2025/08/2560-796x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-13433" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo by Colectivo Multipolar</figcaption></figure>



<p>An important retrospective showing how disabled, deaf and neurodivergent people have contributed to design and culture since the 1940s, including fashion, photography and art. There are more than 170 uplifting, fascinating and inspiring exhibits to browse, tickets £16.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-gianni-versace-restrospective-nbsp-at-arches-london-bridge-until-1-march-2026"><a href="https://archeslondonbridge.co.uk/gianni-versace-retrospective" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Gianni Versace Restrospective</a>&nbsp;at Arches London Bridge (until 1 March, 2026)</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2025/08/Screenshot-2025-08-08-at-07.24.48-1024x697.png" alt="Gianni Versace Exhibition " class="wp-image-13435" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Image @ Arches London Bridge</figcaption></figure>



<p>No fashionista worth their salt is going to miss this just-opened exhibition of more than 450 pieces by the trailblazing designer (remember Liz Hurley’s safety pin dress? It’s there!), 30 years after his death. It’s easy to forget what a major mark the designer made on the industry and beyond, with everyone from Princess Diana to Kate Moss wearing his work, but this fashion exhibition (the first of its kind in the UK) really captures his importance. Go worship at the temple of Versace, tickets £30.75.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-downton-abbey-the-auction-bonhams-18-aug-16-sept"><a href="https://www.bonhams.com/auction/31605/downton-abbey-the-auction/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Downton Abbey: The Auction</a>, Bonhams (18 Aug – 16 Sept)</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2025/08/Screenshot-2025-08-08-at-07.33.33-1024x972.png" alt="Downton Abbey " class="wp-image-13436" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Image @ Bonhams</figcaption></figure>



<p>A must for&nbsp;<em>Downton</em>&nbsp;fans, you get to see some of the elegant costumes and props up close before they’re sold off to the public. Highlights include Lady Edith’s wedding dress, Lady Sybil’s two-tone harem pants and a stunning sea green silk dress with detailing as worn by Dame Maggie Smith (Dowager countess of Grantham). Free entry.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-marie-antoinette-style-v-amp-a-20-sept-22-march-2026"><a href="https://www.vam.ac.uk/event/dnlo79lD/members-preview-marie-antoinette-style" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Marie Antoinette Style</a>, V&amp;A (20 Sept – 22 March, 2026)</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2025/08/members-preview-day-marie-antoinette-style_1920-1024x479.jpg" alt="Marie Antoinette style at the V&amp;A " class="wp-image-13437" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Film still from Sofia Coppola’s Marie Antoinette. Photo @ I WANT CANDY LLC and Zoetrope Corp</figcaption></figure>



<p>Considered by many to be the most stylish queen in history, the fascination with Marie Antoinette refuses to fade. This clever exhibition examines how and why the ill-fated Queen has had such a lasting impact on fashion, film and culture, spanning more than 250 years. There are also lots of events related to the exhibition taking place too, including sewing workshops, see website for details. Tickets £23.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-costume-couture-sixty-years-of-cosprop-fashion-amp-textile-museum-26-sept-8-mar-2026"><a href="https://fashiontextilemuseum.org/exhibitionsdisplays/costume-couture-sixty-years-of-cosprop/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Costume Couture: Sixty Years of Cosprop</a>, Fashion &amp; Textile Museum (26 Sept – 8 Mar 2026)</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2025/08/Screenshot-2025-08-08-at-07.50.31-1024x633.png" alt="Fashion &amp; textile Museum Costume Couture " class="wp-image-13440" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Image @ Fashion &amp; Textile Museum</figcaption></figure>



<p>Muddy can’t wait to have a wander around this one-off exhibition, which focuses on London-based Cosprop’s influence on film and TV. It’s an opportunity to see some of the world’s most iconic costumes shown for the first time, including Helena Bonham Carter’s wardrobe in&nbsp;<em>A Room with a View</em>, Meryl Streep outfits from<em>&nbsp;Out of Africa,&nbsp;</em>Maggie Smith’s gowns in&nbsp;<em>Downton Abbey,&nbsp;</em>Colin Firth as Mr Darcy in&nbsp;<em>Pride and Prejudice,</em>&nbsp;and Leslie Manville’s stunning clothes in&nbsp;<em>Mrs Harris Goes to Paris.</em>&nbsp;Tickets £12.65 .</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cecil-beaton-s-fashionable-world-national-portrait-gallery-9-oct-11-jan-2026"><a href="https://www.npg.org.uk/whatson/exhibitions/2025/cecil-beaton/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cecil Beaton’s Fashionable World</a>, National Portrait Gallery (9 Oct – 11 Jan, 2026)</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2025/08/Screenshot-2025-08-08-at-07.59.22-880x1024.png" alt="" class="wp-image-13441" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><em>The Second Age of Beauty</em>&nbsp;by Cecil Beaton</figcaption></figure>



<p>A renowned fashion illustrator, Oscar-winning costume designer, social caricaturist and writer, Beaton elevated fashion and portrait photography into an art form, and we can’t wait to see this new exhibition showcasing his work at the peak of his career. From the Jazz Age and the Bright Young Things, to the high fashion brilliance of the 1950s and the glittering, Oscar-winning success of&nbsp;<em>My Fair Lady</em>, the man was a creative genius. Tickets £23, go see.</p>


Super cool fashion exhibitions to visit in London (now + opening soon)

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