14 MOST ROMANTIC RUNWAY MOMENTS OF ALL TIME

words by ANOUK WOUDT

As Valentine’s Day falls upon us, it is the perfect time to reminisce on the most iconic runway moments that made us believe in love. From the charged passion of the ‘90s to today’s bold declarations of desire, these moments prove that fashion has always had an eye for romance. As we take a walk down memory lane, consider this your invitation to swoon.

HELENA CHRISTENSEN AND MICHAEL HUTCHENCE FOR ⁠THIERRY MUGLER SS94

images via pinterest @enie1104 and @shanoncsteele

Nothing screams romance quite like Helena Christensen strutting down the Spring/Summer 2004 Mugler runway, hand in hand with her real-life rock star boyfriend, Michael Hutchence. Through this intersection of rock and high fashion, their appearance became the centre of pop culture fascination, leaving audiences swooning. Her, in that explosively gothic dress, and him, in that matching dark, studded look with a cigarette in hand, capture their punky glam love story, sealing it off with a runway kiss.

KATE MOSS AND JOHNNY DEPP KISS DURING JOHN GALLIANO FW95

images via pinterest @k80_marie666 and @alexiapelcak

Standing alone as one of the most iconic moments in pop culture, Kate Moss bending over to kiss Johnny Depp mid-show stays on repeat in our minds as a golden standard of romance. Her confidently slinky entry in that dazzling Galliano dress had already commanded every eye in the room, but it was that spontaneous, headline-making kiss that truly stole the scene. Complete with Depp gently wiping his mouth to unveil a cheeky smile, the moment provides a tender glimpse into their relationship, seizing mass interest as the it-couple of the ‘90s.

GIANNI VERSACE’S HEART MOTIF FOR SS97

images via pinterest @voguevintagestore and @xenasevelaguerr

This bold, colorful heart print featured in Gianni Versace’s Spring/Summer 1997 collection stole our hearts, as we prepare for this season of love. Produced in collaboration with artist Jim Dine, whose signature thickly painted, repeating hearts style blossomed in the late 1960s, its boldness stood out on the runway. The joyous print has since joined the Versace hall of fame, becoming part of their brand heritage, with many reintroductions throughout the years, notably in their Pre-Fall 2019 collection under Donatella, in homage to her late brother.

LAETITIA CASTA ROSE FINALE FOR YVES SAINT LAURENT SS99

images via pinterest @cosmic_destroyer and @hatingirlonline

Of course, we can not forget the most iconic finale to a show, maybe ever, with the Yves Saint Laurent Spring/Summer 1999 show. With endless recreations and discourse that has survived across two decades, this floral look is just so romantically delicate that it has us head over heels. Laetitia Casta, draped in cascading roses, is a sight to be seen, and it’s no surprise that a piece this beautiful has had such a lasting impact.

JEAN PAUL GAULTIER HAUTE COUTURE SS07 

images via pinterest @zoepetruzzi @taisiabusareva

Through the array of Christian iconography and Virgin Mary motifs that defined this show, one look in particular caught our attention. This dress, adorned with a pierced heart spilling blood into every seam, emanates the dazzle of heartbreak. Complete with a single red tear on her cheek, the dress is a tribute to the hopeless romantics who wear their hearts on their sleeves.

MAISON MARGIELA ARTISANAL FW14

images via pinterest @beyondmirrorimage and @fedemorello

Margiela’s Artisanal Fall/Winter 2014 show gave us a Valentine look that doesn’t allow for any subtlety. With mosaic imagery dominating the collection’s aesthetic, one look stood out among the rest, featuring a heart bodice with “I Love You” sprawled across. Paired with elegant gloves and a signature full-face mask that completed every look in the collection, it makes for the perfect casual date night look… of course, if your goal is to scare them off.

VIKTOR & ROLF SS19

images via pinterest @hornbeck and @queenrat64

In the Viktor & Rolf Spring 2019 collection, a specific look also captured our love-lorn gaze. Taking the form of a tulle heart-shaped explosion, it teeters between whimsy and drama, instantly tempting every sweet tooth in the audience. With the words “GET MEAN” printed across, the dress pays a perfect homage to Valentine’s Day candy hearts, blending school-day nostalgia with a sassy edge. 

VALENTINO FALL RTW 19 ‘LOVE ON DISPLAY’ STATUE KISS PRINT

images via @vogueaustralia

Another most amorous collection comes from Valentino, with a collection aptly titled The Great Romantic. The collection’s main motif was an image of a 19th-century neoclassical sculpture of lovers kissing, morphed with an image of roses. It was seen printed on nearly every look, creating a passionate ode to love.

JACQUEMUS LAVENDER FIELD RUNWAY FOR ITS SS20 

images via @jacquemus

In a dreamy change of pace from the usual runway location, we can’t forget when Jacquemus turned a Provençal lavender field into a fashion show. The vibrantly hot pink runway juxtaposed with the uniform stripes of lavender bushes creates a truly fairy-tale-like scene. Paired with flowy, bright pastel looks, this show felt like a sun-kissed daydream, getting us in the mood for love.

JORDANLUCA’S WEDDING ON THE RUNWAY SS25

images via @britishvogue

When designers Jordan Bowen and Luca Marchetto of the brand JordanLuca decided to get married on the runway, we were all in shock. Walking out in groomswear, their Spring/Summer 2025 show ended with an unforgettable close. The unexpected ceremony melted their personal lives into their fashion, transforming the catwalk into a wedding aisle. Guests and models alike watched as love unfolded in an almost cinematic moment that feels rare in an industry that tends to be so cut-throat. This union made a statement, with tenderness at the forefront, inspiring us all to infuse a little more love into life.

THOM BROWNE FW23 SHOW

images via @people and @gq

Thom Browne’s Fall/Winter 2023 show, presented during New York Fashion Week on Valentine's Day, was a highly romantic and theatrical interpretation of The Little Prince. Though romance was already in the air, it was the ending that particularly cemented this moment in fashion history: Thom Browne running out to the crowd to present his partner, Andrew Bolton, with a massive heart-shaped box of chocolates.

ANOK YAI AS A BRIDE FOR VETEMENTS SS25

images via pinterest @thebridalfaery @the_curator_k

Anok Yai made headlines with her Runaway Bride, which turned a wardrobe malfunction into a viral moment. With her heels continually catching in her burgeoning dress, hindering the elegance of her bridal walk, she decided to abandon the traditional model walk. The result was perfect. Her frantic run closed off the show with a bang, showing the dress in its full glory, and providing a new narrative to the wedding story.

CAROLINA HERRERA’S FLOATING ROSE GARDEN FOR FW25

images via THE WALK and @carolinaherrera

Last year, Carolina Herrera brought romance to the runway with a “metaphorical rose garden”, wiring 3,000 flowers to the ground to create something utterly dreamy, set against the backdrop of Isamu Noguchi’s Sunken Gardens. Floral prints also adorned the collection itself, infusing each piece with a delicate femininity. Its poetic elegance oozes out, leaving the viewer in a misty daze of longing.

DILARA FINDIKOGLU’S CHERRY DRESS SS26

images via pinterest @afr33n_ @imthespecialk

Bringing us back up to the current day, Dilara’s cherry dress embodies a raw, unsettling vision of love that is set to linger in our minds for a while. Complete with stains and seemingly real rotten cherries smushed against a pearl-toned bodice, this messy, sultry look pairs perfectly with the mushiness of V-Day.