Titanic & Fashion – The Last Dance in Den Haag

Until January 25, 2026, the exhibition Titanic & Fashion – The Last Dance – has been curated by the Kunstmuseum itself. Featuring original costumes from the iconic 1997 film of the same name, and previously unshown clothing and accessories from the museum's collection dating back to the 1910s, Titanic & Fashion promises to be a special and immersive journey. This is therefore a last chance for lovers of fashion from that period and everything related to the Titanic. This exhibition scores highly in reviews, and the design of the entire exhibition is exceptionally beautiful.

Titanic & Fashion – The Last Dance

From September 27, 2025, to January 25, 2026, the fashion exhibition Titanic & Fashion – The Last Dance will be on view at the Kunstmuseum Den Haag. Featuring original costumes from the iconic film Titanic (1997), previously unshown clothing and accessories from the museum's collection from the 1910s, as well as work by contemporary designers who shed light on the dreamy clothing of over a century ago. Fashion enthusiasts can immerse themselves in the unique fashion scene of the 1910s. For fans of the ship Titanic, several unique historical objects are on display.

 

the last dance

Everyone knows the story: the 'unsinkable ship' that sank to the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean during its maiden voyage. The story told in the film Titanic (1997) through the timeless love story of Rose and Jack, along with the famous and award-winning costumes, is etched into our cultural memory.

“Why an exhibition about fashion at the time of the Titanic now? The 1910s breathe optimism: belief in progress and confidence in new technologies. At the same time, migration, class differences, and the threat of war play a major role. It is a period of 'the last dance,' just before the First World War breaks out. More than a century later, as a society, we are once again confronted with similar themes. History repeats itself, but never in the same way.” – Director Margriet Schavemaker  “The fashion of the 1910s also marks a transition: towards new colors, materials, and shapes. We see much of this returning now: romantic dresses, lace, embroidery, and even corsets – but now for all genders. Contemporary designs interspersed among the historical pieces show how designers today draw on this soft, dreamy fashion. Do we perhaps need these daydreams all the more in a hardened world?” – fashion curator Madelief Hohé  

The end of an era – a new beginning

This unique exhibition, on view only in The Hague, focuses on an underexposed and revolutionary period in fashion: 1908 to 1918. Corsets are cast aside and bright colors replace the soft powder tones of the Belle Époque. These are the years of rebellious innovators such as Paul Poiret and Coco Chanel, or Lucile, the headstrong British fashion designer who survived the Titanic disaster. A time when women fight for suffrage and faith in technological progress is boundless. Feminism takes shape in modern, practical suits – in a society where class differences and exclusion are shaped precisely by fashion. Modern technologies – cars, telephony, airplanes, and steamliners – are gaining ground, and fashion, too, sparkles with modernity on the eve of the First World War.  

In search of happiness

On the Titanic—the 'unsinkable' ship that nevertheless sank during its maiden voyage in 1912—there were countless different people, all with their own stories. All in search of happiness. Traveling in first class were immensely wealthy passengers, dressed in the latest trends from Paris and the United States. They were mostly returning from their tours of Europe. The largest group was to be found in third class: mostly migrants with one-way tickets on their way to a new future in the United States, some dressed in regional costumes from their countries of origin. The photos taken at Ellis Island of these emigrants show people dressed in Italian or French regional dress, from Ukraine, but also Zeeland costumes. All together on a ship that came to symbolize, on the one hand, the belief in modernity and, on the other, the dangers this entails.  

Threat, dreams and resilience

Contemporary designers are harking back to the dreamy, flowing lace clothing of over a century ago. Does this point to a longing for softness in a world that is hardening? Translucent gowns that reveal 'merkins' (pubic hair wigs) to shock, men cinched in corsets, and military-inspired outfits. A high-profile 2024 collection by Margiela, designed by John Galliano, features pieces that appear partly inspired by the Titanic era, in a romantic blend of then and now. This same play with gender and corsets can be seen in the collections of the Dutch designer Tess van Zalinge. She devotes considerable attention to creating works for different sizes and to the corset that cinches or, conversely, grants freedom. The work of Craig Green depicts both protectors and protection. Many of his creations are made for 'urban nomads,' who can carry anything in their clothing, right down to life jackets, ready to leave or flee. The exhibition also features work by Iris van Herpen from her Carte Blanche collection. Filmed underwater, it is an ode to the resilience of women. Source: Kunstmuseum Press Release.  

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Titanic & Fashion – The Last Dance, through January 25, 2026: https://www.kunstmuseum.nl/nl/tentoonstellingen/titanic-fashion Previous museum blogs: https://www.postzegelblog.nl/tag/made-in-holland/