25 April 2026  Fashion meets museum practiceOn 5 May, Vienna's Kunsthistorisches Museum Vienna hosts a new edition of its afterwork format Kunstschatzi, this time dedicated to the dialogue between historical representation and contemporary fashion. Under the title "Haute Co(in)ture", the event connects the current exhibition "Head and Shoulders" with the work of young designers from the fashion school KunstModeDesign Herbststraße.Founded in 1874, the school is one of Austria's longest-standing institutions for applied arts education. It combines design, craftsmanship and economic training, and maintains close ties to the local fashion scene. Its students regularly present collections at platforms such as the Vienna Fashion Week, reflecting a practice-oriented approach that bridges education and industry. Design decisions on siteAt the museum, students of the 'Herbststraße' will present newly developed pieces inspired by motifs from the exhibition. Rather than a conventional runway show, the setting invites a more process-oriented perspective: the museum becomes a space where design references are made visible and creative decisions can be traced back to historical sources.The exhibition itself focuses on portraiture on coins and medals spanning around 2,400 years. Hairstyles, collars, jewellery and headwear appear as condensed signs of identity and status. These visual codes form the starting point for the students' interpretations, translating small-scale historical imagery into contemporary garments. Guided tours as styling narrativesA central element of the evening is a series of themed guided tours that approach clothing and styling as part of cultural mediation. Instead of focusing solely on art historical classification, the tours highlight how dress functioned as a system of communication.• Visitors encounter historical styling choices, from elaborate wigs to symbolic accessories • Objects are discussed in terms of social norms, rank and self-representation • Links are drawn between past aesthetics and current fashion practices These guided formats position styling not as superficial decoration but as a cultural language. By reading garments, hairstyles and adornment as signs, the tours offer a framework that connects museum objects with everyday visual literacy. Opening access through collaborationThe cooperation between museum and fashion school reflects a broader shift towards interdisciplinary formats in cultural institutions. According to General Director Jonathan Fine, the aim is to create accessible encounters with art by introducing new perspectives and encouraging dialogue between historical collections and contemporary creative practice. He indicated that collaborations with young designers help translate exhibition content into present-day contexts, making the museum a more open and dynamic space.The evening concludes in the Kuppelhalle, where the social aspect of the afterwork format comes into play. Yet the core remains educational: a layered approach to fashion as both historical evidence and current expression. Image: Exhibition view 'Head and Shoulders' (Kopf und Kragen) at the Coin Cabinet of the Kunsthistorisches Museum Vienna, showing displays on historical fashion and portraiture. © KHM-Museumsverband |