If you had to choose just one word to describe Scott’s tenure at Moschino, it’s kitsch. His very first collection for Moschino—in autumn-winter 2014—had multiple tongue-in-cheek references to the likes of McDonalds and Hershey’s Chocolate (think an haute couture gown draped in the shape of the candy brand’s famous Kisses), setting the trend for the ironic use of brand logos from 2017 onwards. For his 2015 autumn-winter collection, Scott incorporated stuffed animals into hip streetwear, winning the affection of celebrities such as K-pop rapper CL and heralding the trend of plushies attached to outfits in South Korean fashion.

“Couture is an attitude”—that was the message printed on Scott’s T-shirt as he came out to take a bow after Moschino’s autumn-winter 2017 collection. The same message was loud and clear throughout the show as Scott transformed, with gusto, the concept of plastic bags into carrier bag minidresses and chic rubbish bag gowns complete with a dustbin-lid fascinator. In a way, Scott’s collection can be seen as a predecessor of the current, highly popular trends of luxury trash bags (Balenciaga’s trash pouch) and exaggerated plastic footwear (MSCHF’s big red boots).

Don’t miss: From Sailor Moon to Astro Boy, how the fashion industry and celebrities are embracing anime, manga and cartoons

Scott was doing big-brand collaborations at Moschino since 2015, years before the recent wave of massive crossovers like Gucci x Adidas and Fendace. Over the years, the designer collaborated with a range of brands, from fast-fashion behemoths like H&M to cartoons like Looney Tunes and Spongebob Squarepants right down to The Sims video games, cashing in on the allure of combined star power.

The 2019 Met Gala theme, Camp: Notes on Fashion, gave Scott the perfect opportunity to flex his expertise in calculated drama. Model Bella Hadid’s hip cut-out, crystal-embellished gown served a memorable look for the night, but this wasn’t Scott’s first foray into red-carpet OTT glam—he had dressed rapper Cardi B in an opulent bishop-inspired champagne ensemble the previous year for the Met’s Heavenly Bodies theme, paving the way for red carpet style to reach theatrical heights ever since. 

NOW READ

Lisa of Blackpink: How to recreate the K-pop star’s casual outfits

Sustainable and sparkly: Stella McCartney’s biodegradable sequins add shine to green fashion

Move over sex and exercise—what is dopamine dressing and how does it boost our happiness?