Courtesy, CHANEL Patrimoine Collection/The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Photo: © Nicholas Alan Cope
Designer: Karl Lagerfeld for House of Chanel (2014–15)
Details to note: Lagerfeld himself drew the pattern on this wedding dress’ dramatic 20-foot train. The end result features digital manipulation of the print, which was then hand-painted with gold pigment and embroidered with pearls and other precious stones.
Photo: Christina Parrella
Designer: Gareth Pugh (2015)
Details to note: The goth-y British designer tends to work with unorthodox materials. This dress, for instance, is made with plastic drinking straws, each cut and attached individually to the garment.
Photo: Christina Parrella
Designer: Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen (2012)
Details to note: Covered in shells and coral, this dress represents both hand-sewn and machine-made techniques.
Courtesy, The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Photo: © Nicholas Alan Cope
Designer: Iris van Herpen (2013–14)
Details to note: This feathery dress is laser cut and features actual bird skulls that have been coated in silicone and attached to a cotton base.
Photo: Christina Parrella
Designers: Threeasfour (left, 2016); Proenza Schouler (right, 2013)
Details to note: These intricately patterned ivory dresses exemplify machine-sewn, 3-D-printed lacework.