At the Schiaparelli couture show in July, the familiar backstage hustle took an unusual turn as a team of special effects artists from Studio Junon joined the fashion crew to transform silicone prosthetics into intricate body modifications. These prosthetic creations included trumpet-like ear extensions and sculpted flesh forms that extended from models’ backs and torsos, blending directly with the garments to create a fusion of clothing and altered anatomy.
Typically engaged in film and television work—crafting realistic body effects such as medical prostheses and simulated injuries—Studio Junon’s collaboration with Schiaparelli represents a growing trend in the fashion industry. Designers are increasingly incorporating special effects prosthetics to challenge conventional forms and explore new visual expressions. For instance, Duran Lantink’s autumn/winter 2025 runway featured male models with bouncing prosthetic breasts and female models with sculpted abs, while Collina Strada’s 2023 New York show transformed models into animal hybrids using prosthetics. Paris-based label Matières Fécales, for its autumn/winter 2026 collection, worked with prosthetic artist Alexis Stone to create exaggerated facial and shoulder modifications, evoking the hyper-modified appearances associated with some ultra-wealthy individuals.
Fashion’s history of body alteration—from corsetry to platform shoes—is well documented, but what marks current approaches is the adoption of techniques traditionally tied to film, television, and theater. Tanya Noor, course leader for hair, makeup, and prosthetics at London College of Fashion, notes a rising interest among students in SFX as a means of artistic and fantasy expression within fashion.
The appeal of prosthetic-enhanced looks in fashion can be partly attributed to the dynamics of social media, where visually striking and unusual imagery commands attention beyond traditional beauty standards. Hatti Rees, an LA-based performer and special effects artist, views the trend as a reaction to increasingly rigid—and often homogenized—beauty ideals. In an era dominated by artificial intelligence and filtered images, deliberate strangeness in appearance may serve as a form of resistance to algorithm-driven sameness.
Rees, who works with diverse materials ranging from silicone to gelatin, has contributed to fashion editorials and music videos, including a recent transformation of rapper Doechii for Paper Magazine’s 40th anniversary issue. She emphasizes the limitless creative potential in prosthetics, which can adapt to various budgets and project needs.
Economic motivations also play a role in the incorporation of prosthetics into high fashion. Amid scrutiny of luxury brands over pricing and labor controversies, designers are leveraging the technical complexity of prosthetic applications to demonstrate craftsmanship and distinctiveness. The elaborate processes involved—such as the detailed work on Schiaparelli’s pieces, which required dozens of specialists and hours of application time—underscore a commitment to pushing boundaries beyond conventional garment design.
Despite their artistic significance, these prosthetic elements are typically not produced for commercial sale and remain niche in market terms. Instead, they serve to expand the conversation around luxury, value, and perceptions of physical beauty. As makeup artist Izzy Zavareei reflects, such innovations provoke reconsideration of aesthetic norms, posing questions about what constitutes beauty in contemporary fashion.