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Keyword

Rococo Reboot!

Start Date 04 April 2025
End Date 22 February 2026
Venue Modemuseum
Location Hasselt, Belgium
Four mannequins three females and one male. (Left) Female mannequin wearing a white 'chemise' like dress with puff sleeves. (Left centre) Long sleeved gown with floral pattern in cream. (Right centre) male black jacket with tails. (Right) cream with green piping with ruffles and sleeves.
Four mannequins on display, (Left ) Teal blue gown with brown buttons on centre front of dress. (Left centre) A cream gown with long sleeves and ruffles. (Centre right) long white and puff sleeves. (Right) menswear on display, black jacket with gold trim complete with white shirt and trousers.
Two female mannequins on display (Left) Brown dress with a Peter pan collar and sleeves. (Right) hooded cloak brown and with brown bow.
On the far left, there are three historical bodices in muted tones, olive green, beige, and floral patterns, accompanied by black shoes. The centre-left mannequin displays a full-length, formal gown in soft peach with teal accents, featuring a wide skirt and elbow-length sleeves, typical of the 18th-century Rococo style. The middle alcove showcases a white ribbed knit dress with a bodycon fit, keyhole cutouts near the chest, and a side slit—this piece is modern and minimalist. Behind that, a pale yellow or cream pleated dress with voluminous sleeves is partially visible, suggesting a romantic or avant-garde design. On the far right, a mannequin in a fitted sleeveless white dress emphasises a contemporary silhouette, standing beside a pair of black flat shoes.

A Fresh Look at the Rococo Fashion World

Eighteenth- and early nineteenth-century fashion inevitably evokes images of lavish ball gowns in macaron colors, extravagant jewelry, and towering hairstyles adorned with feathers. But does this cinematic image align with historical reality? Rococo Reboot! answers this question and takes you on a fascinating journey through fashion from 1750 to 1830.

Through a thematic journey, the exhibition reveals the role of fashion in daily life. Did you know that dressing was a ritual, from lacing a corset to carefully arranging bows and ribbons? That clothing not only served as a status symbol but also contributed to hygiene? Or that city fashion was an entire universe, with specialized luxury boutiques and a love for strolling in parks and salons?

Rococo Reboot! – A Reinterpretation

This exhibition offers a critical reinterpretation of the Rococo era and its fashion history. Rococo Reboot! breaks through common stereotypes and shows that fashion history is not a series of neatly defined periods but a continuous evolution in which styles and trends are constantly being reinvented. With contemporary insights and sensory experiences, you will discover how fashion from this period continues to influence today.

What to Expect?

  • Anatomy of an Outfit – Discover the layers and structures that shaped fashion: from corsets and wide petticoats to refined accessories.
  • From Court to City – Prints and magazines show how fashion trends spread without digital communication.
  • Spotlight on Menswear – Designers and filmmakers Dylan Eno and Finn van Tol bring men’s clothing from this period to life with innovative AI reconstructions.
  • Humor and Satire – Caricatures provide a playful and critical perspective on fashion and societal changes.
  • More than Appearance – Fashion was not only a way to display status but also reflected social changes in a turbulent period.

In addition, Rococo Reboot! immerses you in a unique, all-encompassing experience. Feel the texture of rustling silk and natural wool, smell the scent of historical sachets, and listen to the fashion gossip of the streets.

Contemporary Influences

Modern designers continue to draw inspiration from Rococo fashion. Rococo Reboot! showcases creations by Meryll Rogge, Ester Manas, Dries Van Noten, Raf Simons, Simone Rocha, Molly Goddard, Elena Velez, Comme des Garçons, and Manolo Blahnik.

Experience the Rococo and be surprised by its versatility!

Images courtesy of © Modemuseum Hasselt