Characters of Fashion is coming to the Barbican in 2027, with a major new exhibition exploring the relationship between clothing and literature.
The Barbican has revealed details of its next major fashion exhibition.
Opening in London on 15 April 2027, Characters of Fashion will bring together clothing, literature, photography, manuscripts and personal correspondence.
The exhibition will explore how writers have used clothes to create characters and express identity. Meanwhile, it will examine how literature continues to influence some of fashion’s biggest designers.
Expect everything from Jane Austen and Virginia Woolf to Christian Dior, Prada, Simone Rocha and Comme des Garçons.
What is the Barbican’s Characters of Fashion exhibition?
Characters of Fashion will explore the long-running conversation between fashion and literature.
The exhibition looks at clothing through the lives and work of celebrated authors. It will also examine some of literature’s most memorable fictional characters.
Writers featured in the exhibition range from Jane Austen, Charlotte Brontë and Virginia Woolf to James Baldwin, Toni Morrison and Jean Rhys.
The Barbican will explore how these writers used clothing to develop characters and their inner worlds.
However, the exhibition goes beyond fiction. It will also consider how authors used fashion to shape their own public identities.
Themes will include joy, transformation, non-conformity, self-awareness and performance.
Which fashion designers will feature?
Fashion plays an equally important role in the exhibition.
The Barbican will present contemporary collections inspired by famous literary characters and stories.
Designers featured include Christian Dior, Prada, Comme des Garçons, Alexander McQueen, Simone Rocha, Wales Bonner, Valentino, Erdem, Thom Browne and Dries Van Noten.
Visitors can also expect work from Dilara Findikoglu, S.S. Daley, Duro Olowu, Stephen Jones, Viktor & Rolf, Vaquera and Robert Wun.
Together, the pieces will explore fashion’s relationship with characters including Orlando, Frankenstein, Beloved, Alice in Wonderland and Dracula.
When is Characters of Fashion at the Barbican?
Characters of Fashion runs from 15 April to 29 August 2027 at the Barbican Art Gallery in London.
The exhibition forms part of the Barbican’s wider 2027 visual arts programme.
