Millions of carefully hand-stitched rhinestones, crystals, beads and precious stones adorn the National Gallery of Victoria’s Viktor & Rolf fashion exhibit.

The exhibit oozes luxurious and intelligently engineered garments. The design duo teases the fashion world with their ever-impressive and ever-evolving play between soft, elegant lines and stiff, angular constructs.

The exhibit is spread out over multiple rooms, enhancing the viewer’s experience of the garments. Amongst the display are 21 dolls, each wearing intricately crafted miniature versions of the Dutch duo’s signature looks.

Viktor & Rolf are one of the only fashion houses to plan their collections back to front: rather than designing the clothing collection, they start by planning the runway’s look and feel. The exhibit attests to their immense talent and demonstrates their finesse in all elements of couture, be it leather work, perfume design or abstract art.

A glimpse of the show