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A Wardrobe of One's Own. Dissident Femininities in the 19th Century

Photo : Palais Galliera / Paris Musées

Oct 13 – Feb 14

A Wardrobe of One's Own. Dissident Femininities in the 19th Century

Forget the restrictive silhouettes of the past and step into a world where nineteenth-century women daringly claimed men’s fashion as their own. Through a stunning collection of personal belongings and iconic tailoring, this exhibition explores how subverting dress codes became a powerful statement of personal and social liberation.

Palais Galliera - musée de la Mode de Paris (Paris 16th)

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About

From September 30, 2026, to February 14, 2027, the Palais Galliera hosts A Wardrobe of One's Own: Dissident Femininities in the 19th Century. This exhibition examines how women adopted masculine fashion codes to challenge traditional gender roles and redefine their social status. With over 500 items on display, including the complete wardrobe of Rosa Bonheur, the event offers a profound look at 19th-century identity. Tickets are priced between 0 and 14 euros. The museum is fully wheelchair accessible and provides tailored support for visitors with sensory or cognitive disabilities, ensuring a welcoming environment for all.

Conceived as a response to the often normative approaches to femininity in fashion exhibitions, A Wardrobe of One's Own. Dissident Femininities in the 19th Century seeks to fill a significant gap in fashion history. The exhibition reveals how the increasingly pronounced adoption of masculine dress codes accompanied a desire for a profound transformation of women's place in 19th-century society, particularly in France and the English-speaking world.

Boasting nearly 500 works, the exhibition presents numerous fashion pieces and iconic accessories: riding habits, trousers, tailored suits, ties, bows, top hats... The exhibition also reveals an exceptional, never-before-exhibited collection: the wardrobe of Rosa Bonheur, unveiled in its entirety. The exhibition gives pride of place to iconography, with a selection of paintings, fashion posters, and 150 previously unseen amateur photographs, gathered for the occasion. This confrontation between silhouettes and images offers a better understanding of the cultural and social meanings of the fashions of the time, and highlights how the masculinization of women's fashion questions the gender binaries that structured 19th-century society.

The exhibition aims to renew the perspective on the evolution of 19th-century women's fashion. From women wearing masculine costumes to the fashions of the artistic and lesbian Paris of 1900, through active women in suits and boots, it explores the impact of dissident expressions of femininity and how they contributed to redefining women's wardrobes of this period. The exhibition brings into dialogue major historical figures, from Marie-Antoinette to Natalie Clifford Barney, from George Sand to Rosa Bonheur, with a multitude of anonymous women revealed by vernacular photography, inviting visitors to identify with and claim this heritage. Beyond its historical roots, the exhibition resonates with contemporary issues and invites reflection on the role of clothing and fashion in the transformation of identities and social roles, in the 19th as in the 21st century.

Our take on this event

Visit the Palais Galliera to explore A Wardrobe of One's Own: Dissident Femininities in the 19th Century, an exhibition running from September 30, 2026, to February 14, 2027. This collection investigates the intersection of fashion and social change, showcasing how women utilized masculine attire to disrupt 19th-century gender norms. Visitors can admire 500 works, including historic suits, ties, and the debut exhibition of Rosa Bonheur's entire wardrobe, complemented by 150 rare amateur photographs.

The exhibition highlights major historical figures like Marie-Antoinette and George Sand alongside everyday women. Opening hours are from 10:00 to 21:00 on Fridays, and from 10:00 to 18:00 on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Tickets are available from 0 to 14 euros.

Accessibility is a priority, with the museum offering full wheelchair access. Specific accommodations are also available for deaf or hard-of-hearing visitors, those who are blind or visually impaired, and individuals with cognitive disabilities. Come discover this historic legacy that continues to resonate with contemporary discussions on social identity.

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