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Manolo Blahnik partners with V&A on Marie Antoinette exhibition
By Shivani Dubey | 18 September 2025 | Culture, Style
Manolo Blahnik has partnered with the V&A on their new Marie Antoinette exhibition, and has released a capsule collection inspired by Sofia Coppola’s 2006 film to celebrate
Manolo Blahnik is partnering with the V&A on their new Marie Antoinette exhibition, Marie Antoinette Style, which explores the French queen’s impact on fashion and design, and how her legacy has continued to capture the interest of audiences over many generations. This sponsorship is a natural step for the brand, given Mr. Blahnik’s longstanding fascination with Marie Antoinette.
His connection began in childhood when his mother would read him Stefan Zweig’s 1932 biography as an unconventional bedtime story. Blahnik has taken inspiration from Marie Antoinette for countless collections over the years. In fact, the designer even created the shoes for Milena Canonero’s Oscar-winning costumes in Sofia Coppola’s 2006 film, Marie Antoinette.
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The exhibition will showcase an edit of the handcrafted Marie Antoinette-inspired styles that Manolo Blahnik has designed over the years alongside original sketches. This will be the first time that his working drawings will be displayed, offering a peek into his design process.
Alongside the exhibition, Manolo Blahnik will also release an exclusive capsule of 11 styles that will be available exclusively in the brand’s stores. The collection is reminiscent of Marie Antoinette’s elaborate style and encompasses four inspiration points.
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Valois is derived from a style seen in Sofia Coppola’s film: in iridescent pink with delicate box pleat detailing, frayed silk fringing and a pale brooch, the ornamental style is a tribute to Marie Antoinette’s love of fine jewellery. Rohan channels the delicate pastels signature to Rococo style, with the powderpuff pink hue nodding to the queen’s makeup and her famous rose garden.
Fontanblas is created with hand-placed striped Claremont fabric inspired by a jacket the queen wore in a portrait in 1785. And finally, Montemedy is reminiscent of the shoes created for the film in an intricate pattern derived from her furniture with floral detailing cut and tufted by hand.
The capsule collection launches on 18 September alongside the exhibition, which will remain available for viewing until May 2026.