THE THEATRICS THAT STOLE THE RUNWAY

Grab Your Front-Row Seat, And Let’s Relive Four Of The Most Outrageous, Awe-Inspiring, And Just Plain Extra Runway Moments Of The Last 24 Years. Spoiler: Fashion Was Never The Same After These.

- BY ESHIKA CHOPRA

Fashion isn’t just about what we wear. It’s about the moments that make us gasp, the risks that push creativity to its limits, and the designs that feel more like art installations than outfits. Over the past 24 years, some runway shows didn’t just showcase clothes. They became cultural touchstones, redefining what fashion could be.

There was the time Viktor & Rolf turned a model into a literal human frame, stacking picture frames around her like she belonged in a gallery. Maison Margiela’s face-covering crystal masks left audiences wondering if the models were even real. Rick Owens had men strapped to each other like human backpacks, challenging the very idea of how fashion should be worn.

And who could forget Thierry Mugler’s alien-like sci-fi queens storming the runway in metallic bodysuits and exaggerated silhouettes?

ALEXANDER MCQUEEN'S 1999 SPRAY-PAINTED FINALE

Shalom Harlow stepped onto the runway in a pristine white dress. Within seconds, two robotic arms locked onto her, circling like predatory machines. But instead of destruction, they created something breathtaking. Jets of black and neon-yellow paint erupted, splattering across the fabric as she spun on a platform. The audience sat in stunned silence. It was hypnotic. It was haunting. It was pure McQueen.