16 Iconic Runway Moments We Still Think About
From J. Lo’s Versace Dress to McQueen’s Kate Moss Hologram.
Many of fashion’s most awe-inspiring, thought-provoking, and utterly fabulous moments have taken place on the runway. Beyond the simple utility of displaying a collection, the runway show exists at the nexus of fashion, art, and theater—combining set design, music, and movement to create immortal displays of beauty and rebellion. Distilling decades of runway shows to the 16 most iconic is an impossible task, so when considering which moments to include, I relied on two criteria: cultural significance and personal preference. I included only one show from each designer, and though fashion shows existed long before the ’90s, my list begins in 1993 when New York Fashion Week began.
For many of us, images of runway shows were our entry point to the world of fashion. Whether you saw it in your aunt’s copy of Vogue or on your parents’ desktop computer, there is always one show that stands out in your memory. From Alexander McQueen’s hologram of Kate Moss to Mugler’s 1995 haute couture extravaganza, here are 16 unforgettable moments that showcase the enduring influence of the catwalk.
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