If you're captivated by the surreal, sculptural, and utterly artistic world of Schiaparelli, you know that fashion can be so much more than just clothes. It can be wearable art, a conversation starter, and a true statement of individuality. Schiaparelli masters this blend of avant-garde design and whimsical motifs, creating pieces that feel plucked from a dream.
For those who love fashion that pushes boundaries and turns heads, there are other incredible designers playing in the same artistic sandbox. Here are 18 brands that share Schiaparelli's fearless, avant-garde spirit.
Comme des Garçons is a legendary house known for groundbreaking, experimental designs that completely rethink what clothing can be. Founder Rei Kawakubo creates conceptual collections featuring avant-garde silhouettes, deconstruction, and unconventional fabrics. From edgy streetwear to mind-bending couture, the brand transforms fashion into a form of abstract art.
While Schiaparelli leans toward surrealist glamour, Comme des Garçons channels a darker, more rebellious edge, appealing to those who love fashion that challenges norms. If you want wearable art that sparks a healthy debate, this is your brand. Shop now at comme-des-garcons.com
Maison Margiela is the master of deconstruction, anonymity, and conceptual craftsmanship. The brand is famous for turning familiar garments inside out and upside down, using unusual materials to create pieces that feel like wearable art installations. From its iconic Tabi boots to its avant-garde runway collections, Margiela redefines luxury with an intellectual, almost anti-fashion approach.
Where Schiaparelli is bold and fantastical, Maison Margiela is more understatedly radical, hiding its genius in clever details and unconventional forms. It's the perfect brand for fashion lovers who appreciate meticulous craftsmanship and quiet rebellion. Shop now at maisonmargiela.com
Dutch design duo Viktor & Rolf are celebrated for theatrical, statement-making fashion that walks the line between couture and performance art. Their collections are filled with exaggerated ruffles, giant bows, and fantastical themes, often topped with a signature dose of witty humor. Each runway show is an event, blurring the boundaries of what fashion can express.
Like Schiaparelli, they treat the runway as a canvas, but with a more playful and lighthearted twist. If you want avant-garde pieces that are whimsical, dramatic, and guaranteed to make an entrance, Viktor & Rolf deliver every time. Shop now at viktor-rolf.com
Often called "The Lord of Darkness," Rick Owens has carved out a unique space with his dark, edgy, and minimalist aesthetic. In his world, gothic influences meet avant-garde design, resulting in draped fabrics, elongated shapes, and stark, monochrome palettes. His clothes are sculptural, creating a look that’s both intense and sophisticated.
Compared to Schiaparelli's embellished surrealism, Rick Owens offers a more muted and architectural take on avant-garde fashion. It's for the person who wants to command attention through powerful form and texture, not color or shine. Shop now at rickowens.com
Hussein Chalayan is a true innovator, known for blending technology, art, and cutting-edge concepts into his designs. His work goes beyond clothing, exploring themes of identity and change through transformative garments and experimental textiles. Think dresses that morph with the pull of a string or skirts made of materials you've never seen before.
Chalayan shares Schiaparelli's spirit of limitless creativity but channels it through a futuristic, tech-forward lens. His designs appeal to those who see fashion as an intellectual pursuit and crave pieces that push well beyond the ordinary. Shop now at hussein-chalayan.com
Gareth Pugh creates dramatic, futuristic fashion that often looks like it belongs on a sci-fi queen. His designs are sculptural and almost armor-like, sculpted from innovative materials like PVC, latex, and metallics. With a focus on sharp, bold shapes and a primarily monochromatic palette, his work is uncompromisingly dramatic and instantly recognizable.
Like Schiaparelli, Pugh designs statement pieces that command a room. However, his aesthetic is less surreal and more futuristic and severe, perfect for someone who wants to convey strength and edge with their style. Shop now at garethpugh.com
A true master of avant-garde design, Yohji Yamamoto is known for poetic, oversized silhouettes that challenge conventional ideas of shape and function. With a signature black-heavy palette, his work features artful draping, beautiful asymmetry, and an intellectual approach to fashion that feels both rebellious and deeply elegant.
While Schiaparelli embraces bold embellishment, Yamamoto prefers a more minimalist and understated artistry. He appeals to those who appreciate avant-garde fashion that is quiet yet powerful, creating a mood of refined mystery. Shop now at yohjiyamamoto.co.jp
Thom Browne is a king of conceptual tailoring, turning classic menswear and womenswear uniforms on their heads with theatrical runway shows and surreal proportions. He is known for his signature shrunken suits, playful motifs (like his dachshund, Hector), and collections that feel like a high-fashion fever dream.
He shares Schiaparelli's love for theater and imaginative storytelling but grounds it in the world of sharp, precise tailoring. If you love fashion that combines razor-sharp craftsmanship with a healthy dose of wit, Thom Browne is for you. Shop now at thombrowne.com
A pioneer of textile innovation, Issey Miyake is celebrated for sculptural shapes and signature micro-pleating techniques that give fabric life and movement. The brand's designs are a beautiful fusion of technology and tradition, creating avant-garde pieces that are as practical and comfortable as they are futuristic.
While Schiaparelli focuses on surrealist forms, Miyake’s work is centered on how fabric interacts with the body. For those who want avant-garde fashion that marries art with an incredible feel and function, Issey Miyake is unparalleled. Shop now at isseymiyake.com
Part of the legendary Antwerp Six, Belgian designer Walter Van Beirendonck creates collections that explode with bold color, playful prints, and surreal characters. His work is unapologetically expressive and humorous, featuring exaggerated shapes and quirky details that feel like they've been pulled from a futuristic cartoon.
Like Schiaparelli, he uses fashion for pure artistic expression. However, Van Beirendonck's aesthetic is much more colorful, loud, and whimsical. It's the perfect brand for daring dressers who want to wear their personality on their sleeve. Shop now at vanbeirendonck.com
The late, great Azzedine Alaïa was a master artist of silhouette, known for sculptural garments that celebrated the female form with precision tailoring. His iconic body-con dresses, laser-cut leather, and use of luxe fabrics made his work both supremely sensual and fiercely architectural. Today, the house continues his legacy of artful craftsmanship.
Compared to Schiaparelli's whimsical surrealism, Alaïa's vision is more grounded and body-centric, creating timeless pieces that still push design boundaries. It's for the person seeking sophisticated, artful fashion with a sculptural edge. Shop now at maison-alaia.com
British designer Craig Green is celebrated for his conceptual, almost spiritual approach to menswear. His collections often feature utilitarian elements transformed into something deeply poetic, with layered, protective-looking garments and flowing sculptural details. His work explores vulnerability and strength in a visually stunning way.
He shares Schiaparelli's love for innovation and shaping the body in new ways, but through a lens of utility and concept. Green's work is perfect for those who want their fashion to make a profound artistic or philosophical statement. Shop now at craig-green.com
Known for his transformative work at Dior Homme, Saint Laurent, and now Celine, Hedi Slimane has defined the modern rock-and-roll aesthetic. His signature style - ultra-sharp tailoring, skinny silhouettes, and a brooding monochromatic palette - creates a look that is effortlessly cool and rebellious.
While less surreal than Schiaparelli, Slimane's uncompromising vision and focus on creating a bold, statement-making identity resonates with the same confidence. It's avant-garde fashion for the modern minimalist with a love for music and nightlife. Shop now at hedislimane.com
A protégé of Rei Kawakubo, Junya Watanabe is a master of "techno-couture." He is renowned for his innovative fabric experiments, intricate layering, and deconstructed designs that turn clothing into futuristic sculptures. His work is a beautiful marriage of traditional techniques and high-tech materials.
Watanabe's aesthetic is more technical and conceptual than Schiaparelli's, but both share a deep commitment to craftsmanship and pushing the limits of materials. His designs are perfect for the avant-garde collector who appreciates technological innovation. Shop now at doverstreetmarket.com
Paco Rabanne became a legend in the '60s by crafting futuristic, space-age fashion from unconventional materials like metal, plastic, and chainmail. Today, the brand continues that legacy of daring innovation under creative director Julien Dossena, creating stunning metallic-mesh dresses and architectural accessories.
Paco Rabanne shares Schiaparelli’s joy in crafting shocking, unforgettable pieces. Its aesthetic is more explicitly futuristic and texture-driven, making it ideal for anyone who wants a show-stopping look that literally glistens with creativity. Shop now at pacorabanne.com
Operating under the Issey Miyake umbrella, the menswear line has consistently pushed boundaries with its experimental textiles and sculptural approach to men's fashion. Favoring layered, pleated, and technologically advanced garments, the designs offered a sharp and artistic alternative to traditional menswear.
While the line as we knew it has evolved, the spirit lives on in Homme Plissé Issey Miyake. It shared Schiaparelli's experimental ethos in manipulating fabric to create new forms, translating that vision for a modern, art-forward man. Shop now at isseymiyakeparfums.com
Danish designer Barbara I Gongini is celebrated for her dark and mystical aesthetic, which feels both ancient and futuristic. Her collections feature asymmetrical silhouettes, layered, flowing fabrics in a muted palette, and a rebellious, moody vibe that speaks to sustainability through modular and multi-functional pieces.
Her style is more goth-inspired and raw compared to Schiaparelli's couture polish, but both brands design for individuals who aren't afraid to express a darker, more conceptual side through their clothing. Shop now at barbaraigongini.com
Under the direction of Glenn Martens, Y/Project has become a go-to for playfully deconstructed and experimental fashion. The Parisian label is known for its twisting seams, exaggerated proportions, and genre-bending silhouettes that challenge traditional ideas of wearability. Every piece feels versatile and open to interpretation.
Like Schiaparelli, Y/Project is for a fashion-forward audience that loves to play with shape and form. It offers a more urban, street-inflected take on avant-garde, perfect for those wanting sculptural fashion with a contemporary, edgy feel. Shop now at yproject.fr
At Apart Style, we're obsessed with curating the best in fashion, beauty, and jewelry to help you discover new brands we think you'll love. Every brand we feature is independently selected by our editorial team based on quality, style, and uniqueness. When you make a purchase through our links, Apart Style may earn a commission - which helps support our small team, and allows us to continue bringing you the best in online style brands.
Looking for more inspiration? Explore our full brand directory or check out our curated brand guides to find your new favorite thing.
