When designers turned paintings into clothes, from Mondrian to Warhol.
By Shreya S · Last reviewed 2 November 2026
What are the most famous art-inspired fashion pieces?
| Piece | Designer | Artist |
|---|---|---|
| The Mondrian dress (1965) | Yves Saint Laurent | Piet Mondrian |
| Pop Art dresses (1966) | Yves Saint Laurent | Pop artists including Tom Wesselmann |
| Van Gogh-inspired embroidered jackets (1988) | Yves Saint Laurent | Vincent van Gogh |
| The Marilyn dress (Spring 1991) | Gianni Versace | Andy Warhol |
| Couture Fall 2012 prints | Raf Simons at Dior | Sterling Ruby |
Why do designers use art in their collections?
To borrow meaning, colour and ideas, to align their work with culture beyond fashion, and sometimes to pay tribute. Yves Saint Laurent, a passionate collector, used art throughout his career; today houses including Loewe, Prada and Dior commission artists directly.
Read on Ayerhs: The Intersection of High Fashion and Contemporary Art · Yves Saint Laurent – The complete guide · Artist collaborations · Reference vs copying