Fashions Fade, Style Is Eternal
If you’ve ever watched The Devil Wears Prada, you know how a simple cerulean department store sweater represents the work of hundreds of people. Fashion has played a role in our lives for thousands of years, but it was only in the last century and a bit that we started parading people around to show it off. Regardless, many fashion shows hold space in our hearts and minds, even if you’re not a follower of haute couture.
1. Hussein Chalayan, Fall RTW 2000
This fashion show was one of those rare moments where we changed how we thought about clothes. At one point in the show, models appeared in simple dresses. As they stood over chairs onstage, the models unzipped the chairs to reveal fully wearable dresses.
renaissancechambara on Wikimedia
2. Alexander McQueen Spring/Summer 1999
The 13th show from Alexander McQueen is forever remembered by close followers of fashion. Set in a simple warehouse location, the show included models with amputated limbs, and the clothing was inspired by the workshops of Queen Mary’s Hospital during World War I. The end, however, included former ballerina Shalom Harlow dancing on a rotating disc between two robots, who covered her in black and yellow paint.
3. Junya Watanabe, Fall RTW 2000
This line featured a selection of bright neons, asymmetric outfits, and a plethora of floral-inspired dresses. The theme was “Techno Couture," and blended traditional floral styles with the exciting future of the 21st century.
Staff photographer for the Rhode Island School of Design Museum of Art on Wikimedia
4. The Battle Of Versailles
This incredibly influential 1973 show changed the way we view fashion today. Set in the palace of Versailles, the show pitted American and French fashion designers against each other. This show was the turning point when American design started being taken more seriously.
5. Alexander McQueen Spring/Summer 2010
The show “Plato’s Atlantis” was the first fashion show to ever be live-streamed, beginning the globalization of the fashion industry. This show also holds a special place in our hearts, as it was the last show McQueen presented before his death.
6. Louis Vuitton, Spring RTW 2001
This collection was a collaboration between Marc Jacobs and Stephen Sprouse, and was one of the first shows to use the brand’s monogram in new and exciting ways. The clothes took inspiration from military uniforms and 50s and 80s punk scenes, and were praised for their blend of high fashion and street style.
7. Mugler, Fall/Winter 1984
This surely wasn’t a show to miss. While the theme was “angels,” Mugler incorporated futuristic metals, superhuman silhouettes, and an overwhelming theme of powerful femininity. The show was praised for being quite the theatre piece, blending high fashion with gorgeous, fantasy elements.
8. Vivienne Westwood, Fall/Winter 1993
If you’ve ever worn tartan or platform heels, you have Westwood to thank for that. This iconic show made use of Westwood’s iconic punk style, but blended traditional British and Scottish elements into the show. The heels were so high that Naomi Campbell fell during the performance.
9. Dries Van Noten, Spring RTW 2005
This show celebrated the 50th anniversary of Van Noten creating ready-to-wear styles. It featured a 142-meter-long dinner table where guests dined as the models walked on top. The clothes drew from Hungarian and Romanian folklore, and heavily featured colors like black, white, and red.
10. Perry Ellis, Spring/Summer 1993
This show is the reason for the popularization of grunge in high fashion. Marc Jacobs drew heavy inspiration from Seattle’s youth culture and incorporated flannel shirts, babydoll dresses, and layered, disheveled looks that cemented grunge as the 90s aesthetic.
11. Christian Dior, Fall/Winter 2000
This show is remembered well, but is loved or hated depending on who you ask. The show explored themes of fetishism, repressed desires, and sacrilege. It was so shocking that many audience members walked out during the performance.
12. Dolce & Gabbana, Alta Moda, Fall 2012
The theme of this show was “Romantic Baroque” and was heavily inspired by Sicily. It featured gold embroidery, capes, lace dresses, tulle, and romanticized all things luxurious that existed during the Baroque period.
Vyacheslav Argenberg on Wikimedia
13. Gucci, Fall/Winter 1995
This show is considered the saving grace of the Gucci brand. The company was facing major financial struggles, but the well-received show led to a 90% increase in sales between 1995 and 1996. The clothes were modern and sensual, and introduced the world to low-waist pants, satin skirts, and horsebit loafers.
Masaaki Komori from Tokyo, JAPAN on Wikimedia
14. Chanel, Fall/Winter 2019
This more recent show was cemented in fashion history, as it was the final ready-to-wear collection designed by Karl Lagerfeld before his passing. The theme was “Chanel in the snow,” and took heavy inspiration from the classic Chanel tweed suits, ski jackets, capes, and knit items.
15. The Row, Spring RTW 2016
This show brought the Olsen twins’ company to an international audience. Held in Paris, France, the line had a minimalist but luxurious aesthetic, and cemented the sisters’ use of “soft power,” which shies away from the standard marketing tactics usually used by other brands.
16. Versace, Spring/Summer 2018
This fashion show was predominantly a tribute to Gianni Versace, who passed in 1998. As a celebration of his legacy, the clothing items were a revival of many of his iconic prints from the 90s, like his Baroque, Trésors de la Mer, and Butterfly prints. The show also ended with one of his original supermodels getting to walk the stage again.
17. Miu Miu, Spring RTW 2022
This collection was heavily praised for changing how we view classic garments. Many of your traditional suit and skirt sets were deconstructed and altered to create a younger and more rebellious silhouette. The show’s most popular item, the micro-mini skirt, became a viral trend, launching the brand into a household name.
18. Chloé, Fall RTW 2024
The most recent show on this list debuted the company’s new Creative Director, Chemena Kamali. The collection signaled a return to the brand’s roots, capturing the “Parisian spirit” through flowing silhouettes, lace, embroidery, over-the-knee boots, and chunky gold accessories.
19. Versace, Fall/Winter 1991
This iconic show is the catalyst for creating the supermodel era. It featured Naomi Campbell, Cindy Crawford, Linda Evangelista, and Christy Turlington, who appeared on the runway together at the end of the show. The show blended high fashion with pop culture and cemented the supermodel as a celebrity forevermore.
Marek Ślusarczyk (Tupungato) www.wyprawa.info on Wikimedia
20. The First Ever Fashion Show
The first fashion show actually took place in 1903, in New York City. It was created by the Ehrich Brothers to showcase their new department store lines. The idea was so popular that by 1910, several other department stores began making use of their idea.
