Viewing Catwalk: The Art of the Fashion Show

Fashion exhibitions often stop at the garment. Catwalk: The Art of the Fashion Show looks instead at the spectacle around it; the image-making, choreography, set, sound and fantasy. Opening at V&A Dundee this week, the show traces more than a century of runway history, from the private salons of the late 19th century to the live-streamed extravaganzas of now, making a convincing case for the fashion show as one of modern culture’s most complete art forms.

What makes this one especially appealing is its attention to fashion as theatre. Landmark moments from houses including Alexander McQueen, Chanel, Dior, Maison Margiela and Louis Vuitton sit alongside archival material, photography and film, spotlighting how fleeting runway presentations can shape the way we dress, desire and remember. For anyone interested in fashion not just as clothing but as performance, image and cultural myth-making, this show is a must-see.