A friendship that lasts forever

Karl Lagerfeld once said, “Art is art. Fashion is fashion,” asserting that art is not just different from fashion but even opposed to it. Despite such bold statements, Lagerfeld himself and other designers have often turned to the works of artists, reinterpreting them for the runway. Today, such partnerships are hardly surprising—what’s more intriguing is discovering which new or long-forgotten name brands will collaborate with next.

We have made a selection of shows where the world witnessed iconic collections born from the marriage of art and fashion.

Schiaparelli x Salvador Dalí

One of the first designer-artist collaborations emerged from the friendship between the founder of deconstructivism in fashion, Elsa Schiaparelli, and the surrealist Salvador Dalí.

The result of this bold duo was Schiaparelli’s 1937 collection featuring accessories designed by Dalí, including the iconic shoe hat and the famous floor-length gown with a red waistband and a lobster print on the skirt.

The Schiaparelli and Dalí tandem became an example of how fashion and art can coexist, influence each other, and create unparalleled masterpieces.

 Yves Saint Laurent x Piet Mondrian

The “Mondrian Collection” is one of the most memorable examples of the synthesis of fashion and art. In 1965, French designer Yves Saint Laurent turned to the minimalist paintings of Dutch artist Piet Mondrian and created a collection of six A-line dresses. These dresses were characterized by simple lines, geometric shapes, and minimalistic decoration in the form of large color blocks—distinctive features of the neoplasticism movement in which Mondrian worked.

Although Saint Laurent admitted to being inspired by the works of Kazimir Malevich and Serge Poliakoff while working on the collection, the “Mondrian” dresses became a classic example of minimalism in fashion, and the show itself became an important symbol of the 1960s fashion industry.

Versace x Andy Warhol

Italian designer Gianni Versace and Andy Warhol were connected not only by a strong friendship but also by a shared passion for popular culture. In 1987, after Warhol’s death, Versace dedicated his Spring-Summer 1991 collection to him, titled “Pop.”

Versace sent Naomi Campbell down the runway in a gemstone-adorned dress featuring Warhol’s famous Marilyn Monroe print. The collection also included shoes, bags, suits, and mini-skirts bearing the actress’s image.

Moschino x Pablo Picasso

Moschino and Pablo Picasso have much in common: a love for bold colors, a penchant for the avant-garde, and a desire to push the boundaries of visual expression. All of this was embodied in the Spring-Summer 2020 collection, created by the brand’s creative director Jeremy Scott.

Scott brought the Spanish artist’s work to the runway in the form of sculptural compositions made of fabric and leather, as well as oversized accessories. References to Picasso’s “Les Demoiselles d’Avignon,” a 3D guitar dress, and the artist’s beloved minotaur motif were all present.

The runway itself was “transformed” into a picture frame, from which the living characters of Picasso’s cubist and surrealist works emerged one by one.

Alexander McQueen x Gustav Klimt

For its 2013 Resort collection, the British fashion house turned to Austrian symbolist artist Gustav Klimt and his “golden” period, known for its use of gilded mosaics and depictions of women in sensual attire.

Creative Director Sarah Burton chose a bee theme for the collection, playing with contrasts by combining ultra-feminine dresses with bold, tailored suits. Several pieces were adorned with dragonfly prints, and one model, encrusted with gold, echoed the image of Klimt’s muse in “Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I.”

Louis Vuitton x Yayoi Kusama

The relationship between Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama and LV began in 2012. Kusama’s signature polka dots were already well-known to art lovers not only in Japan, but her exhibitions were also drawing huge crowds worldwide.

Kusama’s famous print covered bags, shoes, accessories, and clothing created by Marc Jacobs. The vibrant collection became one of the most commercially successful collaborations in LV’s history.

Ten years later, the fashion house invited Kusama to collaborate again. This time, not only her signature polka dots appeared on pieces designed by Nicolas Ghesquière, but also on other recognizable elements of Kusama’s work, such as psychedelic flowers.

For this collection, the fashion house refined its screen printing technology, which didn’t just transfer the artist’s designs onto items but accurately replicated her brushstrokes as if painted by hand.