Coffins, Spikes, & 100M Tracks: The 10 Craziest Catwalks Of All Time
The Great Wall of China. A science lab. A subway. A hamster wheel. Before you guess the riddle, we'll go ahead and remove the idea that these places hosted Charlie Sheen’s last NYE bash. Actually, these locations make up fashion's most outrageous, over-the-top, out-of-bounds catwalks of all time. While the rest of fashion world simply opts for the standard, long-runway configuration, there's a small selection of visionary designers equipped with illusions (or delusions?) of grandeur. From Fendi to Chanel, the typical fashion-show runways have had a makeover that only wildly brilliant designers would dare to dream. (Mr. Lagerfeld, we’re looking at you.) Take a cruise down memory lane for the 10 craziest catwalks of all time.
Death-Defying Heights — Naomi Campbell was once quoted as saying that Alexander McQueen fashion shows are the most terrifying yet the most fun experiences. She must have been referring to his spring '00 collection. Eschewing the conventional runway, he lined the catwalk with metal spikes and nails, forcing his models to be lifted above the stage, gracefully floating through the air above stunned showgoers’ heads. It was dark, ominous, and a wee bit dangerous, but, hey, at least the models didn’t have to walk in those infamous armadillo heels. Now that’s terrifying.
History Lesson — In October '07, fashion mastermind Karl Lagerfeld’s collection for Fendi needed a dramatic backdrop, and the only place he deemed appropriate was The Great Wall of China. Inviting 500 guests from around the world and costing a jaw-dropping $10 million to produce, Lagerfeld pulled off what has to be arguably the most extravagant, most expensive, most impressive catwalk of all time.
Guiness Book Record Holder — The "walk a mile in their shoes" phrase has a whole new meaning, because this has to be the most exhausting runway on the list. During Copenhagen Fashion Week in 2010, a monstrous catwalk spanning one-mile long was manufactured to hold the record as “The World’s Greatest Catwalk.” Erected in the city center along the pedestrian street, Strøget, Helena Christensen, along with 250 other models, walked the neon-pink catwalk in sky-high stilettos and sporting designs from roughly 500 different Scandinavian brands. For the models’ sake, we’re hoping they at least had rehydration stations along the way.
Photo: Courtesy of Alexander McQueen
Death-Defying Heights — Naomi Campbell was once quoted as saying that Alexander McQueen fashion shows are the most terrifying yet the most fun experiences. She must have been referring to his spring '00 collection. Eschewing the conventional runway, he lined the catwalk with metal spikes and nails, forcing his models to be lifted above the stage, gracefully floating through the air above stunned showgoers’ heads. It was dark, ominous, and a wee bit dangerous, but, hey, at least the models didn’t have to walk in those infamous armadillo heels. Now that’s terrifying.
History Lesson — In October '07, fashion mastermind Karl Lagerfeld’s collection for Fendi needed a dramatic backdrop, and the only place he deemed appropriate was The Great Wall of China. Inviting 500 guests from around the world and costing a jaw-dropping $10 million to produce, Lagerfeld pulled off what has to be arguably the most extravagant, most expensive, most impressive catwalk of all time.
Guiness Book Record Holder — The "walk a mile in their shoes" phrase has a whole new meaning, because this has to be the most exhausting runway on the list. During Copenhagen Fashion Week in 2010, a monstrous catwalk spanning one-mile long was manufactured to hold the record as “The World’s Greatest Catwalk.” Erected in the city center along the pedestrian street, Strøget, Helena Christensen, along with 250 other models, walked the neon-pink catwalk in sky-high stilettos and sporting designs from roughly 500 different Scandinavian brands. For the models’ sake, we’re hoping they at least had rehydration stations along the way.
Photo: Courtesy of Alexander McQueen
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