Fantasy couture, also sometimes called couture fantasy, is a type of haute couture. It represents a fashion and design trend that emphasizes fantastical appearance over practicality/functionality. It has elements drawn from the fantasy genre of literature and film, often presented in an extreme style of detail, complexity, and precision. The trend is characterized by individuals such as Iris van Herpen, Eiko Ishioka, Guo Pei, Tim Yip, Robert Wun, Tomo Koizumi, Alexander McQueen, Tex Saverio, The Blonds, Kevin Germanier, Manuel Albarran, Stephen Jones, Charles de Vilmorin, Mary Sibande, and Bobby Love, among many others.[1] [2] [3] [4] [5]
An example of this style is performed annually at the Labyrinth of Jareth Masquerade Ball held in Hollywood, California, named for the 1986 film Labyrinth.