En volume ! Donner corps à la mode

A frock coat defines the shoulders, a crinoline holds a skirt away from the body, a knit moves with its wearer. At the Palais Galliera, the exhibition “En volume !” brings together more than 300 garments, accessories, tools and documents to show how fashion has shaped silhouettes since the 17th century.

The visit takes you inside the workshop. Tailoring gives garments their structure, soft dressmaking shapes fluid fabrics, and knitwear makes use of their elasticity. A draped creation by Madame Grès and an ensemble by Sonia Rykiel illustrate two ways of shaping fabric around the body. Displayed flat or opened up, some garments reveal their internal components and the handiwork concealed by the finished piece.

A garment’s cut also reveals what an era expects of the body. As ready-to-wear makes standard sizing widespread, the meaning of fit changes. The exhibition explores the body types these standards overlook and the solutions devised to dress bodies as they change. At the end of the exhibition, an installation by Pierre Giner uses artificial intelligence to recombine garments from the collections on new silhouettes.

Practical information
• Tuesday to Sunday, 10 am to 6 pm; Friday until 9 pm.
• Closed on Mondays, 25 December, 1 January and 1 May.
• Closes at 5 pm on 24 and 31 December.