From designer retrospectives to brand archives, there is a wealth of couture history to discover at museums around the world. Get your fashion fix for the new year at our top picks of upcoming international exhibitions. 

Once deemed &ldquo;the master of us all&rdquo; by Christian Dior, Crist&oacute;bal Balenciaga left a legacy that remains unsurpassed in the world of fashion. <a href="http://www.vam.ac.uk/exhibitions/balenciaga-shaping-fashion" target="_blank">Balenciaga: Shaping Fashion</a> celebrates a century since the opening of the Spanish couturier&rsquo;s first fashion house, offering insight into his genius. For the first time in the UK, over 100 of Balenciaga&rsquo;s creations will go on display alongside X-rays that show the intricacy of his craft. Going beyond a retrospective, pieces from over 30 fashion designers such as Comme des Gar&ccedil;ons, C&eacute;line and JW Anderson will also be presented to trace Balenciaga&rsquo;s lingering influence on contemporary fashion.&nbsp;

From now &#39;til 18 February 2018, The Victoria and Albert Museum, London

Photo:&nbsp;Alberta Tiburzi in &#39;envelope&#39; dress by Crist&oacute;bal Balenciaga. Photograph by Hiro Wakabayashi for Harper&#39;s Bazaar, June 1967. &copy;&nbsp;Hiro 1967, courtesy of Victoria and Albert Museum, London

Balenciaga: Shaping Fashion - Trailer

With both a throwback collection and an upcoming TV series dedicated to him, the world seems to have a renewed interest in the legendary Gianni Versace. How timely, considering that his namesake fashion label celebrates its 40th anniversary this year. <a href="http://retrospective-gianniversace.com/en/gianni-versace-retrospective-2" target="_blank">Gianni Versace - Retrospective</a>&nbsp;takes us back to where it all began: Lippstadt, the city that was adored by Gianni and where his first fashion show was held. Besides his fashion creations, this will be the largest ever exhibition of Gianni&#39;s original craft, such as accessories, furniture, home-decor and photographs.

31 January 2018 to 13 April 2018, Kronprinzenpalais, Berlin.

Photo: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/gianniversaceretrospective/" target="_blank">@gianniversaceretrospective</a>

Gianni Versace Retrospective Kronprinzenpalais Berlin - LOfficiel Singapore.png

The cult of Maison Martin Margiela may count celebrities like Kanye West and Jay-Z as followers, but the man behind the label remains one of fashion&rsquo;s most mysterious figures. However, Palais Galleria&rsquo;s major Martin Margiela retrospective &mdash; the first of its kind in Paris &mdash; just might shed some light on the Belgian designer who is known for his unorthodox approach to fashion and deconstructed garments. Showcasing over 100 creations alongside catwalk videos, archives and special installations, <a href="http://www.palaisgalliera.paris.fr/en/exhibitions/margiela/galliera-1989-2009" target="_blank">Margiela / Galliera 1989-2009</a>&nbsp;traces the anonymous designer&rsquo;s noteworthy career from Spring/Summer 1989 to Spring/Summer 2009.

3 March 2018 to 15 July 2018, Palais Galliera, Paris.

Martin Margiela, wigs and hairpieces jacket, Fall-winter 2008-2009 (“Artisanal” collection), then Spring-summer 2009 © Stéphane Piera / Galliera / Roger-Viollet

Martin Margiela, narrow suit jacket, Fall-winter 1989-1990 © Julien Vidal / Galliera / Roger-Viollet

Martin Margiela, waistcoat, Fall-winter 1989-1990 © Julien Vidal / Galliera / Roger-Viollet

The fashion world may have lost its &ldquo;King of Cling&rdquo; last November, but the legacy of the celebrated French-Tunisian designer lives on in the hearts &mdash; and the wardrobes &mdash; of his many devotees (Grace Jones, Madonna and Naomi Campbell, to name a few). Curated by Monsieur Ala&iuml;a himself, Design Museum&rsquo;s <a href="http://designmuseum.org/exhibitions/future-exhibitions/azzedine-alaa-the-couturier" target="_blank">Azzedine Ala&iuml;a: The Couturier </a>exhibition allows visitors to explore the couture master&rsquo;s inimitable vision of the female form through more than 60 of his works spanning his 35-year career.

10 May 2018 to 7 October 2018, The Design Museum, London&nbsp;

Photo: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/azzedinealaiaofficial/" target="_blank">@azzedinealaiaofficial</a>

Azzedine Alaia ALAIA Couture Sculpture Galleria Borghese Rome - LOfficiel Singapore.png

The word &ldquo;iconic&rdquo; gets thrown around a lot these days, but there is perhaps no better word to describe a couture house that has established a global presence over 70 years &mdash; as is the case for Dior. The French Maison&rsquo;s enduring legacy is the focus of Denver Art Museum&rsquo;s <a href="http://denverartmuseum.org/exhibitions/dior" target="_blank">Dior: From Paris to the World</a>&nbsp;exhibition, which will bring the Maison&rsquo;s creations to the U.S. for the first time. 150 haute couture dresses from as far back as Dior&rsquo;s founding in 1947 will go on display, as well as accessories, photographs, sketches and runway videos.&nbsp;

18 November 2018 to 3 March 2019, Denver Art Museum, Colorado.

Photo: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/denverartmuseum/">@denverartmuseum</a>

Don’t Miss: 5 Fashion Exhibitions to See in 2018

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