Can fashion be art? Many legendary designers would argue yes, and, as a result, the runway has often become performance art’s ultimate stage. Though not every runway is imbued with intense metaphorical meaning, a show has the power to create spectacle, push boundaries, and crystallize a moment in fashion history for everyone involved, especially when the circumstances of the performance are so fleeting. (Remember, a show is usually under 15 minutes!)
In honor of this year’s Met Gala exhibition, “Costume Art,” read on for 15 times designers have done just that.
Sunnei, spring 2026 ready-to-wear
While goody bags are a semi-regular occurrence at fashion shows, they’re more likely to contain a perfume sampler than scratch-off cards revealing varying amounts of imaginary currency. Said lotto tickets were all part of Sunnei’s spring 2026 show, where designers Loris Messina and Simone Rizzo—in partnership with Christie’s—turned the art of fashion and commerce on its head, satirizing the whole hoopla with a fake auction. (The concept was reminiscent of Imitation of Christ’s fall 2002 runway-cum-auction, which was held at Sotheby’s in New York.) Items “for sale” included the designers themselves, who suddenly announced their departure from the brand online after the show, culminating in a not-so-subtle examination of artistic worth.
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