A new exhibition in Paris celebrates Snoopy as a fashion icon, showcasing his influence on designers from streetwear to haute couture. Running until April 5, Snoopy in Style highlights the beagle’s 75-year journey from comic strip to global cultural phenomenon.
A new exhibition, Snoopy in Style, opened on March 22 in Paris, highlighting the emergence of Snoopy as a fashion icon. The beloved black-and-white beagle, known for his role in Charles Schulz’s Peanuts comic strip, has been embraced by a wide range of designers, from streetwear brands to high-fashion couture houses. Hosted at the Hôtel du Grand Veneur in Paris's historic Marais district, the exhibition is part of the celebrations marking the 75th anniversary of Snoopy, Charlie Brown, and the Peanuts gang. Created by Charles Schulz, Peanuts made its debut on October 4, 1950, and over the decades, it has grown into a global cultural phenomenon.
The Snoopy in Style exhibition runs from March 22 to April 5, offering visitors an inside look into the connection between the Peanuts brand and the world of fashion. According to Melissa Menta of Peanuts Worldwide, the idea behind the exhibition was to celebrate the brand’s longstanding relationship with fashion, which has played a crucial role in expanding its global reach. “Since we’re celebrating our 75th anniversary this year, we thought it would be fun to celebrate the history that the brand has with fashion. And where else would you do that but in Paris?” Menta explained. The exhibition explores how designer collaborations and merchandising strategies helped turn a 1950s comic strip into a global cultural touchstone.
International spotlight
One of the main themes of the exhibition is how Schulz’s ability to create simple yet visually memorable characters helped propel the Peanuts brand into the international spotlight. For example, Charlie Brown, who was initially drawn with just a plain white t-shirt, later received his now-iconic striped sweater, which helped establish his enduring visual identity. The exhibition also honors Schulz’s own distinctive style, which influenced the visual development of the characters.
However, it is the collaborations with fashion designers that are central to the exhibition’s narrative. In the early 1980s, Schulz’s merchandising collaborator, Connie Boucher, came up with the idea of creating dolls of Snoopy and his sister Belle. These dolls were sent to fashion houses across the world, asking designers to dress them in their own styles. The idea was groundbreaking at the time, and the result was a collection of fashion-forward designs for these fuzzy characters, which included creations from iconic designers like Karl Lagerfeld, Fendi, and Jean-Charles de Castelbajac. By 1982, there were enough of these specially dressed dolls to launch a traveling exhibition in cities such as New York, London, and Paris. The current exhibition showcases numerous dolls from both that era and more recent creations. One standout piece comes from the Italian luxury brand Valentino, which contributed a couture outfit for Belle, featuring a complex design made up of 15 different fabrics.
Universal joy
The exhibition also highlights how Snoopy's image has transcended the comic world and become a mainstay in global commercial culture. Over the years, Snoopy has appeared on a wide range of products, from Marc Jacobs sneakers to Uniqlo t-shirts and Lacoste jackets. These collaborations demonstrate how fashion and merchandising have kept the Peanuts brand relevant across generations. Licensing agreements for these products, however, come with strict guidelines—Snoopy cannot appear in any X-rated content, nor can he be depicted smoking or drinking alcohol.
Maintaining Snoopy’s relevance across decades is a challenge, but the Peanuts brand continues to thrive, thanks in part to the internet. The 18,000 Peanuts comic strips are endlessly shared, helping introduce the characters to new generations. The success of the brand in the digital age, particularly through social media, would likely have amazed Charles Schulz, who passed away in 2000. His widow, Jeannie Schulz, noted that her husband would be astounded by the continued success of Peanuts, particularly in the realm of social media. Through its enduring appeal in fashion, merchandising, and online platforms, Snoopy remains a symbol of universal joy and timeless style.
With AFP
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