The Tamesis
Can fashion also be art? Many legendary designers would say yes, and as a result, the runway often becomes the ultimate stage for performance art. While not every fashion show is imbued with strong metaphorical meaning, a fashion show has the power to create spectacle, push boundaries, and shape a moment in fashion history for all involved, especially when the context of the performance is so fleeting. (Remember, a show is usually no longer than 15 minutes!)
In honor of this year’s Met Gala exhibition “The Art of Costume,” read 15 times, that’s what designers are doing.
Sunnei, spring 2026 ready-to-wear
While gift bags are less common at fashion shows, they are more likely to contain perfume samplers rather than scratch cards displaying varying amounts of virtual currency. The aforementioned lotto tickets were all part of Sunnei’s spring 2026 show, where designers Loris Messina and Simone Rizzo teamed up with Christie’s to subvert fashion and commercial art, satirizing the whole hustle with a fake auction. (The concept is reminiscent of the Imitation of Christ show and auction held at Sotheby’s in New York in the fall of 2002.) Among the items “for sale” were the designers themselves, who abruptly announced their departure from the brand online after the show, ultimately resulting in a not-so-subtle look at artistic merit.
