The iconic outfits worn by the Spice Girls, including Mel B’s legendary leopard-print catsuit, will be showcased in a new exhibition titled “Cool Britannia.” This event is set to celebrate 1996 as “Britain’s wildest year,” offering visitors a glimpse into a time when pop culture, music, and social movements intertwined in an unforgettable way.
The exhibition will be held at the Barbican Music Library in central London, providing free access to all who wish to explore this piece of British history. Alongside the Spice Girls’ outfits, the display will feature items such as Liam Gallagher’s tambourine, Geri Halliwell’s Union flag platform boots, and a coveted Brit Award. These artifacts highlight the cultural significance of the mid-1990s, a period that saw the rise of iconic artists and moments that shaped the nation’s identity.
Curated by Dominic Mohan, a former editor of The Sun newspaper, the exhibition aims to capture the essence of 1996—a year when pop, rock, football, art, dance culture, food, media, and politics collided in a spectacular fusion. The show celebrates the achievements of that year, including the Spice Girls’ meteoric rise to fame, Oasis’s legendary Knebworth gig, and the release of the cult classic film Trainspotting.
One of the highlights of the exhibition is a blue dress worn by Emma Bunton, known as Baby Spice. The collection also includes photographs by renowned British photographers Jill Furmanovsky and Derek Ridgers, capturing bands on and off stage. Visitors will also have the chance to see previously unseen Oasis memorabilia, along with concert flyers and tickets from the era.
Mel B, known as Scary Spice, made a statement about her leopard-print catsuit, which she wore during the girl group’s performance at the 1997 Brit Awards. At 50 years old, she shared her excitement about the exhibition, saying:
“It is now the moment to unleash my ’90s leopard catsuit back into the wild for the world to admire. What memories. What a time. What an outfit. Perhaps one of the most iconic Spice performances with my gorgeous girls and best friends at the peak of the ’90s at the Brit Awards. A glorious moment when we came home to celebrate a rollercoaster seven months after exploding from unknowns in July 1996 to feeling like we had conquered the world. It was all a crazy ’90s whirlwind but, in my leopard print, I knew I could take on anything.
“This outfit is sexy, naughty, and bold, which pretty much sums up me and the ’90s! I hope you love it as much as I do. And, yes, I can still fit into it. Enjoy one of my most loved and treasured items from my personal archive. Thirty years on, cherish the memory, and enjoy the exhibition. Love life. Girl power 2026.”
The 1996 Brit Award, loaned to the exhibition from the British Phonographic Industry, was presented to winning artists of that year. Among the recipients were Oasis, fronted by Liam and Noel Gallagher, who won three awards, as well as Annie Lennox, Supergrass, Paul Weller, Take That, David Bowie, and Michael Jackson.
Dominic Mohan expressed his enthusiasm for the exhibition, stating:
“I’m thrilled that we’ve got Mel B’s catsuit, Geri’s platform boots, Emma B’s dress, Liam’s tambourine, and a Brit Award trophy all jostling for position next to so many other incredible items. In creating this exhibition, I’ve hoped to capture that magical period when pop, rock, football, art, dance culture, food, the media and politics fused together spectacularly to become the wildest year of Britain’s wildest decade.”
Brendan Barns, chair of the City of London Corporation’s Culture, Heritage and Libraries Committee, added:
“Whatever brings back happy memories or ignites your interest in this rollercoaster year, Dominic Mohan’s star-studded take on Cool Britannia is going to be one of the hottest free exhibitions in the capital.”
The exhibition will open at the City of London Corporation’s library on Thursday and run until 19 September. It offers a unique opportunity for visitors to immerse themselves in the vibrant energy of 1996, a year that left an indelible mark on British culture.
For those interested in exploring the legacy of this era, the exhibition promises to be an unforgettable experience. From the Spice Girls’ iconic fashion to the musical milestones of the time, it’s a celebration of creativity, resilience, and the spirit of the ’90s.
