Costumes of Light exhibition opens Maison Fragonards centenary in Arles.

Only a month remains for visitors to explore “Costumes de lumière”, the second exhibition presented at the Museum of Fashion and Costume in Arles.

In July 2025, the Museum of Fashion and Costume opened its doors, attracting over 30,000 visitors between July 6, 2025, and January 5 of this year with its first exhibition titled “Collections-Collection.”

A new cultural venue under the Maison Fragonard’s auspices has now turned a new page with a shorter but equally captivating chapter. From Friday, March 27, to April 26, the museum is showcasing “Costumes de lumière,” the start of a series of six exhibitions in Arles, Grasse, and Paris for the Maison Fragonard’s centenary. This exhibition, born from a chance encounter between the artistic director Clément Trouche and costume collector Alberto Perales during the 2025 European Heritage Days, features around fifty pieces from Perales’ private collection, dedicated to bullfighters’ costumes.

Perales, following his grandfather’s passion, shares his pride in presenting and preserving this heritage. Historian Clément Trouche recalls the first time he laid eyes on a bullfighter’s costume from the late 18th century, describing it as a masterpiece that captivated him. The exhibition focuses on the evolution, symbolism, and craftsmanship of the “costume of lights” from the 18th to the 19th century, showing how it dictates a different attitude, similar to Arles’ traditional costume.

The “Costumes de lumière” exhibition also highlights the history and significance of bullfighting costumes, linking them to culture and traditions dating back to the 1830s. Furthermore, it showcases how these costumes have transitioned from the bullring to high fashion runways, like Yves Saint Laurent’s collaboration with bullfighting motifs in the late 1970s.

A section of the exhibition pays homage to Christian Lacroix’s iconic pieces inspired by bullfighting culture, displaying unique creations that blend tradition with avant-garde fashion. Christian Lacroix’s innovative approach of incorporating bullfighting elements into his high fashion designs is celebrated in the museum.

The next exhibit, titled “Amazons! Riders and fashion icons,” is set to be presented from May 22 to September 20 at the Museum of Fashion and Costume in Arles.