Fashion has long embraced its dirty side, from scuffed sneakers to mud-caked models to ‘Hobo-core,’ and now we’re getting a deep dive into its rebellious and romantic potential, through an all-new exhibition at The Barbican .

Titled “Dirty Looks: Desire and Decay in Fashion,” the exhibition brings together over 60 fashion houses and emerging designers from across the globe to trace the industry’s enduring obsession with filthy aesthetics. While museum curators will usually be doing everything they can to ensure each piece is in perfect condition, that may have been less of a worry this time.

The aesthetic emerged in the West as a form of rebellion, a way of questioning consumption habits and redefining the idea of luxury and beauty. First seen on the runway in the 1980s, Vivienne We

See Full Page