We're always enthralled by the bold, cutting edge style that comes out of Japan. Makeup artist-turned-cosmetics giant Shu Uemera was a legend in his day -- a genius at creating groundbreaking, haute makeup looks with his eponymous line. "Future Beauty," an exhibit at the Seattle Art Museum, reminded us of his sharp, forward-thinking aesthetic. The show features 80 spectacular gowns by 31 top Japanese designers, including Issey Miyake and Junya Watanabe. "The exhibition shows how Japanese fashion design launched itself on the world stage in the 1980s. Japanese fashion designers at that time developed breathtaking aesthetic positions that subsequently influenced a younger generation of Western designers including Martin Margiela, Ann Demeulemeester and Alexander McQueen," said the SAM's curator of modern and contemporary art Catharina Manchanda.

Far from your everyday wear, these eye-popping gowns showcase the transformative impact Japanese designers have had on the fashion industry over the past 30 years. From paper shreds to cascading chiffon, the exhibit captures the adaptability and expression Japanese fashion brings to life. Look closely -- we fully expect these designs to inspire and build on some of the