The wackiest and wildest fashion moments from 2020: From KFC Crocs to inflatable trousers

The pandemic might have left the runways quieter than usual, but it certainly didn't dampen designers' creativity

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  Naomi Campbell wears a full hazmat suit to the airport in March. Naomi Campbell / Instagram

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  Travel restrictions in March and April spurred the Runway Challenge, as part of which people re-created runway looks using household items. Here, dustbin bags get a new lease of life. Instagram / @gbeauharnais

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  This collaboration between Crocs and KFC defies description. Each pair comes with a chicken-drumstick-shaped accessory, and the shoes sold out instantly. Courtesy Crocs

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  The internet went into overdrive following the December launch of Gucci's upside-down glasses. They are selling like hot cakes. Courtesy Gucci

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  SiiGii released this fully inflatable outfit, designed for those who are allergic to the sun. Courtesy SiiGii

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  In September, and unable to stage a fashion show due to social-distancing measures, Moschino presented its autumn / winter 2021 collection as a puppet show. Courtesy Moschino

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  'Wear gloves but make it fashion.' Dressing up the household item became almost mandatory during isolation. Instagram / @velenporella

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  It was inevitable that high-end companies would embrace face masks. In September, Louis Vuitton announced its version for Dh3,530, complete with golden studs. Courtesy Louis Vuitton

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  April witnessed the Pillow Dress Challenge, that saw thousands of people post images of themselves wearing nothing but pillows. Instagram / @alexandra_dimitrova

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  Bottega Veneta launched a cropped boot in candy colours, called the Puddle Boot. It has been wildly successful. Courtesy Bottega Veneta

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  Virgil Abloh melded man with machine in this shirt/kite hybrid for spring / summer 2020. Courtesy Louis Vuitton

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  When Maison Margiela sent out a model with a full face covering for haute couture spring 2020, it was regarded as a quirky gimmick. Two months later, the global pandemic was declared. Courtesy Maison Margiela.

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  Bags shrank to miniscule proportions, as with this Givenchy offering. Made to hang around the neck, it could only hold a pair of Apple Airpods. Courtesy Givenchy

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  Working on the idea there can never be too much of a good idea, Balenciaga offered matching everything for Resort 2020. Courtesy Balenciaga

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  These trousers from Thom Browne for spring / summer 2020. Courtesy Thom Browne

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  In October, menswear designer Craig Green showed this part-tent, part-Samurai-armour ensemble for spring / summer 2021 Courtesy Craig Green

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  Loewe sewed a woman's cocktail dress on to the front of menswear for autumn / winter 2020. Courtesy Loewe

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  Padded spikes from Moncler 1 x JW Anderson for autumn / winter 2020. Courtesy Moncler

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  In October, Gucci released pre-ripped tights for Dh727 a pair. Although slammed in the press, the tights sold out in days. Courtesy Gucci

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  A giant snowball dress by Guo Pei for spring haute couture 2020. Courtesy Guo Pei

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  Before the pandemic was announced, Marine Serre already had face masks as part of her runway show for autumn / winter 2020. Courtesy Marine Seer

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  This bag shaped like a croissant, by Moschino. Courtesy Moschino

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  In February, Balenciaga's autumn / winter 2020 fashion show saw the first row of chairs submerged under water, as models splashed across a flooded runway. Courtesy Balenciaga

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  Men's inflatable latex trousers by Harikrishnan, for autumn / winter 2020. Courtesy Harikrishnan

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  A blazer with bat wings at the Central Saint Martins fashion graduate show. Courtesy Central Saint Martins

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  Marni made the humble Wellington boot a fashion must-have for Resort 2020. Courtesy Marni

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  Ahead of the curve, men's designer Kozaburo had face masks for spring / summer 2020. Courtesy Kozaburo

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  A larger-than-life coat by the Central Saint Martins fashion graduates. Courtesy Central Saint Martins

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  For haute couture winter 2020, Valentino created a series of exquisite dresses. They just require the wearer be 12 foot tall. Courtesy Valentino

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  The baguette-shaped clutch by Moschino. Courtesy Moschino

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  Thom Browne transformed his models into Subbuteo football players for spring / summer 2020. Courtesy Thom Browne

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  To follow social-distancing rules, in September Jacquemus took its spring / summer 2021 show to a wheat field in France. Courtesy Jacquemus

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  September saw Louis Vuitton offer menswear strewn with cuddly toys for spring / summer 2021. Courtesy Louis Vuitton

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  To avoid having to touch surfaces, Comme des Garcons offered a dress with no arm holes for autumn / winter 2020. Courtesy Comme des Garcons

Despite the upheaval and disruption of 2020, people have still found the wherewithal to pour energy into creating both fashion and hilarious fashion pastiches.

Cooped up at home for weeks on end, thousands took to social media to share selfies wearing pillows or in homemade runway lookalikes, crafted from whatever was to hand.

Throughout the year we have witnessed supermodels arriving at airports in full hazmat suits, and a startling number of fashion shows offering up outfits to survive the apocalypse, but that took place before the pandemic was even heard of. How about that for fashion forward?

Aside from clothes for the end of the world, 2020 has delivered the usual array of wacky fashion moments that are the lifeblood of the industry. Thom Browne turned his models into tabletop Subbuteo football players with enormous shoes, while over at Louis Vuitton, models wore clothing/kite hybrids and Moschino turned its womenswear runway into a puppet show.

We have also witnessed inflatable trousers, women's dresses stitched to the front of men's clothes, egg outfits with no outlet for the hands and pre-ripped tights.

While it may feel like a quiet year, 2020 has, in fact, been a vibrant year for creativity, so here we look back at it's most flamboyant fashion moments on and off the runways.