They're not the kind of garments you can expect to find in a clothes shop.
From the weird, to the wonderful, the World of Wearable Art show is in its 31st year.
WOW Chief Executive Gisella Carr told 1 NEWS keeping the event fresh is a big focus for organisers.
"We really do make it new every year and that starts with us giving provocations to the designers from around the world who want to enter."
She says designers were given a hint about some of the scenes their outfits would be modelled against.
"This year for example we asked them to think about garments that would work in white or garments that'd work in a mythology provocation," she said.
Current events have also been a big part of 2019's show, which acknowledges the Christchurch terrorist attack, and its impact on the Muslim community.
"What you're seeing there is both the standing together response of New Zealand at that moment, but also through the whole section the diversity that is New Zealand," said Ms Carr.
The show also features work by designers who have a long history with it.
Kayla Christensen has been submitting garments to WOW for more than a decade.
"It's like a big explosion of creativity, every year you never know what to expect" she said.
Her hand painted piece, Waka Huia, is featuring in the Aotearoa section.
"It's a big moment, the last time I saw this it was in my living room, so it's quite cool to see it on stage," she said.
The designers aren't just looking to catch the eye of the audience, there's also more than $100,000 in prize money up for grabs.
The show runs until October 13 at Wellington’s TSB Arena.
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