HIGHS, LOWS & KILLER SHOWS: 2023’S WILDEST RUNWAY MOMENTS

by Jade Fisher 11 months ago

by Jade Fisher 11 months ago 7 min

It’s been the year that has brought us highs, lows, and killer shows. From condom-hands at Botter to seeing double at Gucci, 2022 has been the year for outstanding fashion moments. As the year draws to a close and the industry gears up for another busy season, we’re looking back at some of the most iconic moments on the fashion stage.

Keep reading for the definitive CULTED compilation of some of the best runway moments of the year.

SPRAY IT, DON’T SAY IT

The viral fashion moment of the year was without question Coperni’s spray-on dress masterpiece. Featuring Bella Hadid as an sculpturally ethereal model, their S/S 2022 show was inescapable, popping up on every media site and social platform for months. Whilst many fashion archivists argued that the stunt was reminiscent of Alexander McQueen’s iconic Spring/Summer 1999 runway show, you’d be hard pressed to find a show as widely featured as Coperni’s this year.

AVAVAV MODELS TAKE THE FALL

Front-row patrons and social media alike spiralled when the first model on the AVAVAV runway took a tumble. Viewers had no idea what was in store – one by one, as models sauntered on, every single one of them crumpled dramatically onto the floor. The risky stunt proved to be a success for the label’s creative director Beate Karlsson, who stated in her show notes that she wanted to do “a parody of a fashion show to go with the pathetic theme of this collection, and of fashion’s extreme superficiality, at a time when so many people fake richness at the risk of falling down hard,”

TWIN THINGS AT GUCCI

In an ode to Stanley Kubrick’s ‘The Shining’, Alessandro Michele debuted Gucci’s ‘Twinsburg’. In the wonderfully weird show, sets of identically styled twins waltzed down the runway in conga-like processions, bemusing and confusing the crowd.

NEED FOR SPEED (& LOEWE)

Loewe’s Spring show caused chaos amongst the fashion world as models cruised down the runway in stretched, car-shaped ensembles. Lining up and proceeding down the front-row as if dodging traffic, the pieces – though perhaps not entirely road-safe – were certainly memorable.

INTRODUCING: INFLATABLE CHIC

Champions of colour Moschino are never ones to shy away from silliness. And that’s exactly the vibe they brought with their S/S 2023 show, featuring a variety of inflatable adorned looks as their models made their way down the runway. “You have to save space for joy,” said Jeremy Scott of the pool-party-esqe show.

GREAT BALLS OF FIRE

Rick Owens’ eponymous brand’s fiery foray into Paris Fashion week earlier this year could only be described as a Rick move. Bystanders gasped as a crane hoisted and then dropped huge flaming orbs from huge heights, down into the water feature below.

BOTTER’S EXTRA PROTECTION

Botter – weird? Yes. Brilliant? Perhaps even more so. The label quickly garnered the attention of millions (including CULTED’s TikTok followers) with their SS/23 Runway show featuring liquid filled, orb-like gloves – which were later revealed to be extra large condoms. You’ve got to stay safe out there.

@culted Throwback to Botter Paris at their SS/23 show last September 👀 📹 – @imruh & @lucienpages #botter #botterparis #parisfashionweek #fashion #fashionforyou #fashiontok #fashiontiktok #learnontiktok #foryou #foryoupage #fyp ♬ original sound – Notfromco

DOUBLET THE TROUBLE, MINUS THE HEADS

“It’s giving Roblox” – just one of the many comments left beneath a spectator’s TikTok of the Doublet show, which featured stomping models with teenage angst energy. The catch? Yeah, they had no heads. In what can only be described as a fashion jumpscare, models marched down the runway with pocketed hands and apparently, pocketed heads too.

@highfashionwalker #Doublet #SS23 ♬ original sound – Dakota Rivers

ROTATING DOORS & LABORATORY FLOORS

Within the vast, white space where Sunnei staged their SS/23 catwalk show, a handful of spectators watched as a clean row of models filed out into the room. Imagine their surprise when fellow members of the audience began to stand up, parade towards the end of the runway and slip into a set of rotating doors, reappearing swiftly in a totally new Sunnei ensemble.

@culted Audience reactions to @sunnei's SS23 RTW show where models emerged from the audience 📸: @iconicfrontrow #sunnei #milan #milanfashionweek #MFW #fashion #fashionshow #audience #reaction #sunnei #milan #mfw #milanfashionweek #fashion #fashionforyou #fashiontok #fashiontiktok #learnontiktok ♬ original sound – CULTED

BIRDS OF A PLEATHER

We’ve seen them everywhere, from SJP in the Sex and the City reboot to influencers at dinner. The J.W. Anderson pigeon bag became an unexpected but beloved treat to the world after its debut at the labels Men’s 2022 Fall fashion show. Since then, it’s only spread the wings of its influencer further – and whilst impractical (and a little odd) we loved it nonetheless.

FASHION HOUSE? NOPE, AUCTION HOUSE

Whilst KidSuper’s first first in-person show of the Men’s Paris fashion season was a triumph, it wasn’t just the clothes that caught our attention. During the show, Colm Dillane had models display paintings next to their associated catwalk looks, in what served as a real life auction with attendees such as Tyga and G-Eazy.