Over two centuries have passed since Marie Antoinette, the last queen of France before the Revolution, met her tragic end — yet her influence continues to captivate the world, especially in the realm of fashion.
From Kylie Jenner posing in lavish gowns for glossy magazines to Chappell Roan’s recent Lollapalooza performance in powdered wigs and corsets, the queen’s aesthetic lives on. Even Rihanna, in her Fenty x Puma line, reimagined what Antoinette might wear to the gym. The queen has become more than a historical figure — she’s now a symbol of glamour, excess, rebellion, and, at times, misunderstood femininity.
Now, London’s Victoria and Albert Museum is hosting the UK’s first exhibition dedicated solely to Marie Antoinette, delving into how her fashion choices made her not just a royal, but arguably the world’s first celebrity style icon.
Beyond Royalty — A Cultural Phenomenon
Marie Antoinette’s visual legacy is everywhere. Pop stars like Madonna, who famously channeled the queen’s Rococo fantasy at the 1990 MTV VMAs, sparked a trend that modern performers — from Katy Perry to Camila Cabello — continue to revive. Designers such as John Galliano, Vivienne Westwood, and Karl Lagerfeld have each drawn inspiration from the 18th-century queen’s elaborate style.
“She was a fashion influencer in her time,” says exhibition curator Sarah Grant, explaining how Antoinette’s personal glam squad — consisting of hairdressers, dressmakers, and milliners — crafted the most extravagant looks of the French court.
This obsessive attention to style wasn’t just about appearances. Antoinette’s sartorial decisions shaped trends and influenced society, laying the foundation for what we now recognize as celebrity culture.
The Exhibition: Opulence and Tragedy
Visitors to the V&A will step into a world of soft pink walls, glittering jewels, silk gowns, and the scents that once filled Antoinette’s boudoir — delicate perfumes of orris root, violet, tuberose, and musk. Over 250 historical items are on display, including jewelry the queen packed herself during a failed escape attempt in 1791.
But the story isn’t all satin and sparkle.
The exhibition also explores her final days — with a room showcasing the stained chemise she wore in prison, alongside a guillotine blade, believed to have been used in her execution. The museum even recreated the musty, sewage-filled smell of the Seine River near the prison to transport visitors to her final environment.
Her Story Reimagined
For years, Marie Antoinette was vilified. Satirical prints from the French Revolution mocked her, painting her as frivolous, immoral, or even monstrous — sometimes literally, depicting her as a hybrid beast. Her failure to immediately produce an heir fueled rumors, while the famous phrase “Let them eat cake” (which she likely never said) became shorthand for her supposed disregard for the suffering poor.
But her image began to shift with the 2001 biography by Antonia Fraser, and more significantly, Sofia Coppola’s 2006 film adaptation, starring Kirsten Dunst. The film — known for its dreamy visuals, modern soundtrack, and pastel aesthetic — portrayed the young queen in a more empathetic light: a teenage girl forced into a powerful and lonely role far from home.
“The movie told her story through a woman’s perspective,” said Grant, adding that without Fraser’s compassionate portrayal, “this exhibition wouldn’t have been possible.”
Modern Designers Still Obsessed
Designer Jeremy Scott, known for his bold and theatrical collections, admits Coppola’s film deeply influenced him. He’s created two collections inspired by Marie Antoinette — one for his own brand in 2008 and another for Moschino’s Fall/Winter 2020 show. His whimsical, dessert-like dresses, layered like tiered cakes, directly reference the queen’s over-the-top reputation — and her iconic misquote.
“There’s a joy in that extravagance,” Scott told CNN. “It’s fantasy, it’s fun — that’s the heart of fashion.”
The V&A show also includes original costumes from Coppola’s film by Milena Canonero, and designer creations from Galliano, Lagerfeld, and Alessandro Michele, offering a modern tribute to a woman whose sense of style has become timeless.
Why Her Legacy Endures
So why does Marie Antoinette still fascinate?
According to Grant, it’s not just the luxury and lace, but the powerful story behind it all: a young woman, forced into the spotlight, navigating love, power, and public hatred — all against the backdrop of the French Revolution, one of history’s most explosive moments.
“It’s the perfect storm — a tragic life, an unforgettable personality, and world-changing events,” Grant said.
Marie Antoinette may have lost her crown — and her life — but her image continues to reign, centuries later, as a queen of fashion, fantasy, and flawed humanity.