Fashion and art exhibitions 2022: The Must-see Events of the Year

London's Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) is dedicating three exhibitions with a focus on fashion as part of its 2022 exhibition programme.

From 19 March 2022 to 6 November 2022, visitors can view the exhibition "Fashioning Masculinities: The Art of Menswear". With over 200 exhibits, the exhibition discusses how men's fashion has changed over time and how designers and wearers have performed masculinity through clothing. Alongside historical paintings, sculptures, performance and film documents, exciting looks from contemporary designers and fashion brands - including Gucci and Harris Reed - will also be on display.

Finally, from June 2022, the exhibition "Africa Fashion" will open with 250 objects from the museum's own archives, as well as new acquisitions that illustrate the fashion trends of the African diaspora. They all date from the mid-20th century to contemporary examples of African fashion designers, such as photographs, textiles, music and art that had a significant impact on the global fashion scene.

At the end of the year, the V&A devotes itself entirely to South Korea. The exhibition "Hallyu! The Korean Wave" explores the emergence of the Korean current in Western pop culture in the fields of cinema, drama, music, fandom, beauty and fashion.

"Hallyu! The Korean Wave" will run from 24 September 2022 to 25 June 2023.

Thierry Mugler is one of the most famous visionaries of the 20th century, not only as a designer but also as a unique artist. The architectural as well as feminine design of his clothes significantly influenced the fashion of his time. The exhibition "Thierry Mugler, Couturissime" shows the exciting universe of the avant-gardist with unique pieces from his haute couture collections as well as ready-to-wear, stage costumes, photographs and films. In several acts, his exhibits are thematically organised and backed by music and projections that recreate the atmosphere of his time. The exhibition "Thierry Mugler, Couturissime" can be visited at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris until 24 April 2022.

On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the implementation of women's suffrage in Switzerland in 1961, the Textile Museum St. Gallen is organising an exhibition on the theme of "Robes politiques - Frauen Macht Mode". Under the title, the museum is presenting costumes and accessories from the period from 1600 to the present day, which stand in the context of the female claim to power in changing society, politics and fashion. Fifty objects by well-known and particularly influential women - including British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, First Lady Jacky Kennedy, Empress Sisi and German Chancellor Angela Merkel - illustrate the tension between style criticism and strategy in female positions of power.

The exhibition has been running since 19 March and can be visited until 6 February.

Whether it's the question about the perfect look in the morning or the pragmatic use of clothing, the topic of fashion constantly accompanies us in everyday life and is in dialogue with identity and consumer behavior. The large national exhibition "Fashion? What makes fashion fashion?", takes a look at questions related to the personal impact of clothing and at the same time tries to illustrate the complexity of the fashion system in a critical and at the same time entertaining way. In addition to everyday clothing and street style fashion, visitors will also have access to designs by famous designers such as Jean-Paul Gaultier and Vivienne Westwood or Chanel and Dior.

Runs until April 24th 2022

Since last year, the MK&G Hamburg has been presenting an exhibition dedicated to the "Language of Fashion". On display are 35 new exhibits from the 19th century to the present day that shed light on the use of text and fashion. From expressive use of language and diverse designs of brand names, logos to political messages as well as typography, there are no limits to design. In addition to the new releases, masterful objects by established designers such as Coco Chanel, Tom Ford, Karl Lagerfeld and promising newcomers such as Edda Gimnes and Flora Miranda Seierl are also on display.

The exhibition runs up to 31 October 2022.