The is-fashion-art debate is something that people love to discuss. Paintings, sculptures and sketches fit neatly into the traditional art category, but fashion is different. Sure, you can frame clothes or simply admire them in your closet, but you can also wear them. If you think that means fashion cannot be considered art, these designers will convince you otherwise. From surrealist pieces to abstract ones, these designers produce wearable sculptures that are as breathtaking as any Renaissance artwork. These creative designers’ works look as beautiful strutting down the runway at Fashion Week as they do showcased in fashion exhibitions, like those at The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s The Costume Institute. They also have both professional and amateur critics (read: shoppers and bloggers) swooning.
Scroll through the gallery above to see the designers who prove that all masterpieces aren’t meant to be hung on walls. The best works of art are the ones you can wear.
Images: Imaxtree
Fashion as Sculpture: Designers That Create Wearable Art
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Alexander McQueen
Alexander McQueen has had a reputation for producing spellbinding works from the very beginning. Now under the helm of the genius Sarah Burton, the brand continues to dream up jaw-dropping looks that combine superior craftsmanship, unexpected materials and dramatic silhouettes.
Image: Alexander McQueen Spring 2013 Runway
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Alexander McQueen Spring 2014 Runway
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Alexander McQueen Spring 2014 Runway
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Gareth Pugh
Gareth Pugh is known for his exaggerated silhouettes and love of black and white. He's the one behind the iconic inflated balloon garments. His dramatic outfits never skimp on the details, so they look as good close up as they do marching down the runway.
Image: Gareth Pugh Spring 2012 Runway
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Gareth Pugh Spring 2013 Runway
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Gareth Pugh Spring 2014 Runway
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Iris van Herpen
If you're not yet familiar with Iris van Herpen, it's time to get yourself acquainted ASAP. The Dutch designer's creations fuse immaculate craftsmanship and a unique use of materials with cutting-edge technology. The result? You get pieces that are packed with head-turning details.
Image: Iris van Herpen Fall 2014 Runway
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Iris van Herpen Fall 2015 Runway
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Iris van Herpen Fall 2016 Runway
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Marchesa
We appreciate Marchesa for its swoon-worthy red carpet looks, but the pieces would look as good in a museum as they do at the Oscars. Designers Georgina Chapman and Keren Craig opt for soft, voluminous silhouettes as opposed to the expected structure. Make no mistake, their gowns are just as dramatic as any other sculptural look.
Image: Marchesa Fall 2014 Runway
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Marchesa Fall 2015 Runway
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Marchesa Fall 2016 Runway
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Chalayan
If you're trying to prove that fashion is art, Hussein Chalayan is one of the first names that you should include in your argument. His clothes may be on the minimal side of the fashion spectrum, but they are anything but boring. He plays with proportion and technology to create garments that are unlike anything we have ever seen before. He made jaws drop with his transformer dresses in his Spring 2007 show and his water-soluble fashions for Spring 2016.
Image: Chalayan Fall 2015 Runway
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Chalayan Fall 2016 Runway
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Chalayan Fall 2016 Runway
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Viktor & Rolf
The duo behind Viktor & Rolf Viktor Horsting and Rolf Snoeren aren't simply fashion designers. They're fashion artists. Both their ready-to-wear and haute couture designs push the boundaries in terms of how we define clothes. Their outfits are whimsical and unexpected. You're as likely to see a face sewn into a gown as you are a violin decorating the collar of a coat.
Image: Viktor & Rolf Spring 2016 Haute Couture Runway
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Viktor & Rolf Fall 2014 Haute Couture Runway
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Viktor & Rolf Fall 2016 Haute Couture Runway
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Issey Miyake
Issey Miyake is a fashion designer who can do fluidity as well as sculptural and sometimes he does both in the same look. Plus, there is no one else who has made pleats so intriguing. The Japanese designer is all about incorporating technology into his pieces. He produces head-turning looks that make us reconsider our relationship with clothes. If that isn't proof his clothes are art, what is?
Image: Issey Miyake Fall 2014 Runway
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Issey Miyake Fall 2015 Runway
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Issey Miyake Fall 2016 Runway
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Yohji Yamamoto
If you do a search for "master tailor," Yohji Yamamoto is one of the first names that you're going to see. The designer knows how to create beautiful looks whether they are soft and full, sleek or extravagant. His sculptural garments would get glowing reviews from fashion editors and art critics alike.
Image: Yohji Yamamoto Fall 2013 Runway
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Yohji Yamamoto Fall 2014 Runway
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Yohji Yamamoto Fall 2015 Runway
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Junya Watanabe
A Junya Watanabe show is a feast for the eyes. The designer does not shy away from color, pattern or texture. His bold aesthetic often translates into the hair, makeup and accessories for the show. What you end up with is a cohesive, head-to-toe look that is crying out for a high fashion editorial or a spot in a museum.
Image: Junya Watanabe Fall 2015 Runway
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Junya Watanabe Fall 2016 Runway
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Junya Watanabe Fall 2016 Runway
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Mary Katrantzou
Mary Katrantzou is the undisputed queen of prints. She has an eye for pattern unlike anyone else. From her debut collection, she has dreamed up prints that are so far beyond your regular polka dots and plaids. Her bold use of mixing patterns, colors and silhouettes is enough to turn anyone into a proud maximalist.
Image: Mary Katrantzou Spring 2012 Runway
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Mary Katrantzou Fall 2013 Runway
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Mary Katrantzou Fall 2016 Runway
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Rick Owens
Rick Owens' designs may not have all of the bells and whistles as some others, but his craftsmanship and attention to detail show a true artist at work. It's part of the reason why his leather jackets are on almost every fashion girl's must-buy list. His more avant-garde looks grab more of the headlines. Hello, human backpacks. The majority of his tailored designs, however, stand out for their sculptural silhouettes.
Image: Rick Owens Spring 2013 Runway
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Rick Owens Fall 2015 Runway
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Rick Owens Fall 2016 Runway
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Comme des Garçons
A Comme des Garçons runway show is unlike anything else that you will see during all of Fashion Month. And that is saying something. Designer Rei Kawakubo is known to keep a very low profile, but she doesn't need to be out on the center of the runway. Her innovative clothes have enough of an impact by themselves.
Image: Comme des Garçons Fall 2014 Runway
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Comme des Garçons Fall 2015 Runway
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Comme des Garçons Fall 2016 Runway
