“It’s designer mud, darling,” said John Galliano, “they’re worth more now!” Harnessing the anxiety and fear around expensive clothes soiled with dirt, mud, and other matter, expectations are flipped at the “Dirty Looks” exhibition. Showcasing pieces from over 60 designers—among them, Rick Owens, Junya Watanabe, Vivienne Westwood, Issey Miyake, Paco Rabanne, and Maison Margiela—the exhibition explores how these powerhouses have embraced wreckage, destruction, and grime in their fashions. Gritty and thought-provoking, “Dirty Looks” asks the observer to examine ideals such as perfection in the context of clothing, and to look at the ways we place value on material goods. —Alexandra Lemer