Embark on a captivating journey through fashion's rebellious side at the Dirty Looks: Desire and Decay in Fashion exhibition, hosted at the Barbican Centre from 25 September 2025 to 25 January 2026. This bold exhibition delves into how designers have embraced imperfection, decay, and unconventional aesthetics to challenge traditional beauty standards and redefine luxury.
Featuring over 60 designers from around the globe, including icons like Vivienne Westwood, Alexander McQueen, and Issey Miyake, the exhibition showcases garments that celebrate the beauty of wear and tear, from mud-stained couture to upcycled creations. Highlights include Hussein Chalayan's 'future archaeology' pieces, Ma Ke's handmade collections using discarded materials, and Elena Velez's mud-wrestling fashion finale.
The exhibition's design, led by Studio Dennis Vanderbroeck, contrasts pristine gallery spaces with intentionally 'destroyed' surfaces, creating a sensory experience that reflects the tension between fashion's polished image and its material realities.
This is a unique opportunity to explore fashion as art and engage with its cultural, environmental, and political dimensions. Whether you're a fashion enthusiast or simply curious about the evolving narratives in design, this exhibition offers a thought-provoking experience.
For more information, please refer to the official Barbican Centre website.
To make sure you get to the right place, follow this link https://w3w.co/wheels.island.hook and use City Mapper, Google Maps, Bing Maps, or Waze to navigate. The full address of the venue is Barbican Centre, Silk Street, EC2Y 8DS.
Spaces are limited, so be sure to book early!