Where Fashion Meets Fun: Let’s Party! at NGV International

At the heart of the experience is an illuminated dance floor where children can show off their dance moves beneath glittering disco balls and queue up tunes on a retro-inspired jukebox. Surrounding this hub of energy is a dazzling selection of garments from the NGV’s renowned Fashion and Textiles Collection. Bold designs by icons such as Issey Miyake, Imane Ayissi, Romance Was Born, Nixi Killick, and haute couture legends including Jean Paul Gaultier and Yves Saint Laurent provide a dramatic backdrop, blurring the lines between high fashion and playful fantasy.

More than thirty-five spectacular garments and accessories are on display, spanning voluminous gowns, surrealist millinery, punk-infused statements and even teddy-bear-trimmed shoes. Their theatricality sets the tone for the entire exhibition, which has been masterfully imagined by award-winning Australian designer Danielle Brustman. Known for her sophisticated command of colour and striking geometries, Brustman has transformed the gallery into an immersive wonderland layered with custom-designed lighting, carpets and wall treatments. Her inspiration includes Tomo Koizumi’s exuberant Look 27, Top and Skirt – a technicolour explosion of over 200 metres of ruffled organza – whose joyful spirit radiates throughout the space.

Another major highlight of the exhibition is the interactive dress-up zone, featuring costumes made by Brynna Lowen, a Melbourne-based costume designer and maker. Here, children can slip into whimsical costumes shaped like hearts, stars and lightning bolts before admiring their party-ready look in Brustman’s vanity-inspired mirrors. The fun continues in a custom photo booth where young fashion enthusiasts can strut, pose and capture a keepsake moment under sculptural lighting designed especially for the show.

Creative minds can extend the celebration at the craft station, where personalising a party hat with sparkly stickers becomes a memento of artistic flair – ready to wear throughout the exhibition and proudly taken home. The exhibition will also inspire the NGV Kids Summer Festival (10–16 January 2026) and the statewide NGV Kids on Tour program, ensuring children across Victoria can join the festivities through workshops, performances and hands-on art activities.

Let’s Party! Fashion for Kids runs from 28 November 2025 to 3 May 2026 at NGV International. For families seeking a joyful, design-driven summer escape, this dynamic celebration of creativity promises to be the season’s brightest highlight.

IMAGE CAPTION: Digital render of Let’s Party! NGV Fashion for Kids: Designed by Danielle Brustman. Image courtesy of Danielle Brustman