7 mind-blowing fashion collaborations that made history, from Louis Vuitton x Supreme’s sporty looks worn by Lady Gaga and Fendi x Versace’s ‘Fendace’, to Salvador Dalí x Elsa Schiaparelli in the 1930s

Apr 4 , 2023

Fendi’s Kim Jones and Donatella Versace at the Fendace show in Milan. Photo: Getty Images

The fashion world is currently abuzz over the upcoming Tiffany x Nike collab – will it be a disaster, or sell out globally in record time like Gucci x North Face’s first collection?

Rihanna gave a pair of thigh-high denim boots from her collab with Manolo Blahnik to Jennifer Lopez, who featured them in her music video, while Dior x Birkenstock perfected the ‘ugly-cool’ look

The heart and soul of any great collaboration is bringing two contrasting brands together to create something that neither could create on their own. It’s inevitable, then, for some announcements to cause a stir – such as the upcoming Tiffany x Nike sneaker collaboration that has divided opinions in the fashion world. Disaster in motion or genius undertaking?

While we wait for the verdict, let’s glide down the aisles of fashion history and look back at some other unlikely collaborations that wowed us.

1. Salvador Dalí x Elsa Schiaparelli

Elsa Schiaparelli (left) and Salvador Dalí collaborated in the early 1930s. Photo: Schiaparelli

No exploration of unforgettable collaborations would be complete without looking back at one of the most groundbreaking unions between art and fashion – Salvador Dalí x Elsa Schiaparelli.

These two powerhouses of the surrealist movement came together in the early 1930s to create original art, fashion and haute couture.

Wallis Simpson wears the Lobster Dress. Photo: Schiaparelli

Although somewhat tumultuous, the partnership gave us infamous dresses such as the Lobster Dress and the Skeleton Dress, as well as one of the first great collaborations between a fashion designer and artist.

The synergistic works of Dalí and Schiaparelli solidified the fashion house as one of the major players in the haute couture space, with Schiaparelli still gracing the front pages of the web today.

Kylie Jenner attends the Schiaparelli Haute Couture spring/summer 2023 collection presented in Paris, France, in January. Photo: AP

This historic pairing paved the way for modern fashionistas to express themselves more freely; Schiaparelli’s designs have since been worn by everyone from first ladies to Lady Gaga. Recent headline-making styles include the Doja Cat Couture where 30,000 Swarovski crystals were hand-applied, as well as the Leo Couture, where fake animal heads were used, as seen on Kylie Jenner.

But sometimes, taking a risk means that one can get backlash for it, as Schiaparelli did after its haute couture show in January this year, which some critics claimed glamorised trophy hunting with its fake animal heads.