Fashion shows are no stranger to the avant-garde. It’s a world built on daring vision, theatricality, and pushing the boundaries of creativity. Often blurring the lines between art, fantasy, and performance, designers transform runways into surreal dreamscapes—or nightmares.
When Fashion Turns Haunting: The Darkest Runway Moments in History
This freedom of expression also invites controversy and strong reactions. Whether through eerie aesthetics or disturbing themes, some shows leave audiences spellbound, disturbed, or both.
Here’s a look back at some of the most haunting and unforgettable fashion shows that have shaken the industry.
John Galliano – Autumn/Winter 2007
For his AW07 collection, John Galliano unleashed a twisted carnival inspired by the gritty streets of 1930s Pigalle, Paris. The runway was populated with veiled streetwalkers, ghostly dancers, and models cradling broken dolls. The set featured live goldfish and skeletons, evoking a sense of eerie decadence. The collection blurred glamour and madness, transforming fashion into a dark, theatrical experience.
Alexander McQueen – Autumn/Winter 2006
McQueen’s legendary ‘Jack the Ripper Stalks His Victims’ collection (originally from 1992 but echoed in his AW06 atmosphere) delved deep into the macabre. With jackets trimmed in human hair and garments steeped in Victorian mourning aesthetics, the collection mourned political decay and personal tragedy. Haunting violin music and a ghost-like appearance by Kate Moss in a swirling, smoke-filled hologram elevated the experience into something between a séance and a requiem.
Chanel – Spring/Summer 2013
Karl Lagerfeld turned the Grand Palais into a shadowy fairytale forest for Chanel’s SS13 collection. The set felt both enchanted and unsettling, with twisted trees and eerie lighting. Models walked in flowing chiffons, floral embellishments, and dark velvet, with mesh lashes and graphite makeup enhancing the gothic undertones. It was a fashion fable that tiptoed through darkness and whimsy.
Christian Dior Haute Couture – Autumn/Winter 2000
John Galliano (again, this time at Dior) took haute couture to disturbing extremes in his AW00 show. The runway was a haunting spectacle where models emerged in grotesque hybrid looks—half-human, half-creature—blending skeleton motifs with twisted takes on historical figures like Marie Antoinette. The jarring visuals shocked many in the audience, with some reportedly walking out mid-show.
Ann Demeulemeester – Autumn/Winter 2013
Known for her poetic darkness, Ann Demeulemeester’s AW13 collection was a melancholic symphony. With Nick Cave’s “O Children” echoing through the venue, models in veils, layered jackets, and ethereal silhouettes evoked a ritualistic, almost pagan vibe. The monochrome palette and spectral presentation created an atmosphere that felt simultaneously romantic and oppressive—an emotional intensity that proved overwhelming for some.
Fashion at its most daring often tiptoes into the disturbing, forcing us to confront discomfort as part of the spectacle. These iconic shows challenged the industry’s norms, turning the runway into a stage for the surreal, the unsettling, and the unforgettable.
