Five Unforgettable Fashion Show Cameos

Diversifying the runway with the presence of unlikely characters, from athletes to artists, is certainly one way in which to produce a memorable fashion show. A forerunner in the practice, Rei Kawakubo, invited Jean-Michel Basquiat and John Malkovich to walk in Comme des Garçons shows back in the 80s, and later, enlisted the infamously shy Alexander McQueen. Jean Paul Gaultier too has long been casting his eminent friends, including the likes of Madonna and Dita Von Teese. In more recent times, we’ve seen everything from Gosha Rubchinskiy at Vetements, Young Thug adjusting the collar of a model at VFiles and Olympians at Telfar, to name a few. Something Curated reminisces over a selection of the most memorable casting decisions of the recent decades.

 

Wolfgang Tillmans || Hood By Air SS17

Hood By Air’s Shayne Oliver, currently at the helm of Helmut Lang, has garnered a reputation for casting underground figures, having previously enlisted Russian artist Slava Mogutin, trans model, activist and actor Hari Nef, performance artist Boychild, and musicians A$AP Rocky and Arca to model in his shows. As a collective, the label is known for challenging perceptions with their casting choices and design ethos. In a comparable way, Wolfgang Tillmans has displayed an openness in his work, collaborating with diverse creatives, having had his track Device Control released on Frank Ocean’s Endless album. While the photographer has worked in fashion, his images have also played a part in larger conversations around the politics of sexuality and contemporary youth culture, not unlike HBA’s output.

 

Jean-Michel Basquiat || Comme des Garçons 1987

Appearing in two different double-breasted grey suits, complete with a bowtie and patent leather Mary Janes, Jean-Michel Basquiat made headlines walking the Comme des Garçons men’s show back in 1987. Born in Brooklyn to a Haitian father and Puerto Rican mother, Basquiat first achieved notoriety as part of SAMO, a graffiti duo who wrote enigmatic epigrams in the cultural hotbed of the Lower East Side of Manhattan during the late 70s. Basquiat maintained a longstanding and well-documented relationship with Comme des Garçons. Friend Andy Warhol kept notes on Basquiat’s fixation with the brand in his published diary, mentioning a CDG jacket Basquiat left at a hotel while high, the Comme shop assistant who allegedly used the young artist for money, and the Comme fashion show at which said same girl ended their relationship.

 

Beth Ditto || Marc Jacobs SS16

Closing New York Fashion Week in an unforgettable manner, Marc Jacobs’ SS16 runway show was everything that a finale should be. Held at the Ziegfeld Theatre, the designer transported audiences to a Hollywood premiere complete with a red carpet, big band, and even paparazzi. He gave the fashion world a memorable moment as he sent Gossip singer, outspoken feminist, and close friend Beth Ditto down the red carpet. Wearing a sequined ivory silk gown, she radiated 1940s-Hollywood glamour, channelling part-Grecian and part-punk rock inspirations. Since her MJ runway cameo, the musician has gone on to model in Jacobs’ campaigns, launch an eponymous collection, and release a line of corsets with Gaultier, for whom she made her runway debut in 2011.

 

Gosha Rubchinskiy || Vetements SS16

Donning a reworked DHL t-shirt, cropped leather trousers, a black short-sleeved button-up, and a pair of boots, Russian streetwear designer Gosha Rubchinskiy opened Demna Gvasalia’s Vetements SS16 show. Rubchinskiy, who hails from Moscow, is known for his nostalgic post-Soviet riffs on the Russian free market of the 90s. His debut offering of logo emblazoned sweatshirts captioned with Cyrillic script and nostalgic high-waisted jeans fastened with shoelace belts made him an instant cult favourite on the country’s underground fashion scene, drawing the attention of Dover Street Market’s Adrian Joffe. Rubchinskiy’s close friend Lotta Volkova Adam, a native of Vladivostok, Russia, and a stylist for Vetements, closed the same show in a floor-sweeping coat.

 

Madonna || Jean Paul Gaultier 1992

After designing the iconic conical corset for Madonna’s Blond Ambition Tour in 1990, Jean Paul Gaultier’s reputation skyrocketed. For his debut runway show in 1992, he staged a star-studded performance to raise awareness of AIDS, featuring models and sex-positive celebrities like Billy Idol and Dr. Ruth, sporting rubber, leather and chaps, among other things. In a seemingly demure finale, the designer walked with his muse, Madonna. She wore an oversized blazer, beret, and a single gold tooth. As the pair neared the end of the runway, however, the singer removed her coat, exposing herself in an impromptu act of rebellion. “I was supposed to wear a top and jacket like Jean Paul’s, but at the last minute I decided it was better to go out topless,” she later explained.