Let them wear Blahnik: Celebrating Marie Antoinette Style at the V&A

Manolo Blahnik's Pleneuf design

MANOLO BLAHNIK PRESENTS AN EXCLUSIVE 12-PIECE CAPSULE COLLECTION IN HONOUR OF MARIE ANTOINETTE STYLE AT THE V&A 

On 20th September 2025, the Victoria and Albert Museum and Manolo Blahnik will unveil Marie Antoinette Style, a partnership that celebrates Blahnik’s longstanding fascination with the French Queen.

The designer's connection began in childhood when his mother would read him Stefan Zweig’s 1932 biography as an unconventional bedtime story.

Marie Antoinette's iconic style can be seen throughout Manolo Blahnik’s archives, as an enduring inspiration for countless collections over the years. He was thrilled to create the shoes for Milena Canonero’s Oscar-winning costumes in Sofia Coppola’s 2006 film, Marie Antoinette. 

On the occasion of Marie Antoinette Style opening at the Victoria and Albert Museum, Manolo Blahnik has introduced a 12 piece limited-edition capsule collection, reminiscent of Marie Antoinette’s iconic elaborate style, and encompasses four inspiration points:

Fontanblas

Inspired by the Swedish artist Adolf Wertmüller's 1785 portrait of Marie Antoinette. The Queen of France is depicted wearing an ottoman inspired robe à la turque the banded garment informed the striped design of the shoes. Alternating stripe directions are reflective of the stripe placement in the portrait adding movement. Velvet piping adds decorative interest. The style utilises claremont fabric Blahnik’s longtime supplier who supplied many of the fabrics for the Sofia Coppola ‘Marie Antoinette’ film shoes.

Montendy

Named after the fortress that Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette had aimed to escape to as they fled Paris. The style is offered in a lampus pattern in peach and khaki which takes reference from Marie Antoinette’s exquisite taste in furnishings.  The Rosette design is reminiscent of details on the original 2006 Sofia Coppola ‘Marie Antoinette’ styles which were hand tufted by Mr Blahnik.

Rohan

Recalling the former Queen’s famous rose garden in a play on the delicate pastels of rococo. The powderpuff pink palette is also a nod to Marie Antoinette’s creative and well-documented use of makeup. Named after Louis de Rohan and his links to both the court of King Louis XVI and the infamous affair of the diamond necklace scandal in 1784-85.

Raloisette

Style ornamented by beautiful box-pleat detailing frayed silk-edge fringing and a delicate pale green brooch - in a tribute to Marie Antoinette’s love of fine jewellery.

The Capsule Collection is available in Manolo Blahnik Stores and online at www.manoloblahnik.com/gb

The Marie Antoinette Style Exhibition will opening 20th September 2025 at the V&A South Kensington on view until March 2026

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