Manolo Blahnik celebrates Marie Antoinette with an exclusive capsule collection

Why Marie Antoinette, now?

To coincide with the exhibition dedicated to the Queen at the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A), Manolo Blahnik revisits the flamboyant aesthetic of the 18th century.

Rather than a pastiche, the house offers a contemporary interpretation of courtly codes: refined silhouettes, unabashed opulence, a pleasure in materials but designed for today's everyday life.

Burlington Arcade, the setting for a modern-day fairy tale

The takeover of Burlington Arcade, in Mayfair, transforms the covered promenade into a temporary lounge.

Gilded mirrors, floral arrangements, nods to Versailles: the decor places the capsule in an immersive experience. You move around it as if in a gallery, where each model tells a story of the era: a ribbon, a rosette, a feather.

The capsule: heritage, precision, desire

Each piece translates a detail from the royal wardrobe, transposed with the artisanal precision so dear to Manolo Blahnik.

• Feather pumps : lightness and movement, designed to capture the light and highlight the line of the foot.

• Embroidered sandals : floral and arabesque motifs, echoing the ceremonial textiles and goldsmithing of the period.

• Velvet ballerinas : princely comfort, delicately rounded toe, tactile softness reminiscent of the private salons of Trianon.

• Buckles and rosettes (house signature): like shoe jewelry, they modernize historical trims.

• Palettes and materials : velvet, satin, moiré, brocade; powdery tea rose, sky blue, ivory, but also deep black to anchor the capsule in the contemporary wardrobe.

The result: shoes that tell a story, capable of transitioning from evening wear to sharp tailoring, without losing the festive spirit.

The art of gesture: when history meets the hand

The strength of the capsule collection lies as much in its inspiration as in itsexecution. Sketches, pattern making, assembly, embroidery: each step highlights the hand — the hand which, yesterday as today, shapes luxury.

Here, the historical reference does not freeze; it animates the creation and gives it depth.

A scenography that tells a story

The house does not simply exhibit: it stages. Didactic labels, plays of mirrors, floral perspectives and tactile textures invite you to see, understand, touch (when permitted) and above all feel.

The journey connects fashion and culture : you leave with a dream pair of shoes… and a story to tell.

Blahnik and cultural institutions: a long-term dialogue

This capsule collection continues the house's tradition of artistic collaborations with museums and designers . Each project explores how art, painting, architecture, and costume design can inform wearable design .

Here, Marie Antoinette becomes a style myth reinterpreted by a house that masters the codes of long-term history.

Responsible modernity, without anachronisms

Revisiting the past doesn't mean ignoring our times. The capsule focuses on:

• the durability of the pieces (finish, repairability, long-term wardrobe),

• the durability of the materials chosen for their durability and beauty over time,

• a production designed to preservecraftsmanship excellence .

What the capsule says about today's fashion

• The return of ceremony : a desire for occasions, precious gestures, objects that matter.

• Storytelling as a value: wearing a pair of shoes that tells a chapter of history.

• The heirloom accessory : a shoe designed to last, to be passed down, to be reconfigured with styles.

How to wear these pieces?

• Daytime : velvet ballet flats + ecru tailored trousers + poplin shirt.

• For evening : feathered pumps + black column dress; let the shoes do the show.

• Mix & match : embroidered sandals + raw denim + men's blazer: the perfect balance between opulence and minimalism.

Underlying it all: a queen, a myth, an attitude

Far from clichés, the capsule collection captures Marie Antoinette's idea of ​​freedom in style : a taste for comfort (ballet flats), an attraction to nature (floral motifs), and a flair for the dramatic (feathers, curls). Through her, Manolo Blahnik celebrates a multifaceted femininity : delicate, audacious, and contemporary.