Jean-Paul Gaultier

Jean-Paul Gaultier is one of the most talked about and influential couturiers across the world. His designs are always unusual and controversial and he is known to be one of the darlings of the fashion press. Jean-Paul Gaultier was born in Arcueil, near Paris on April 24 in 1952 . When he was only aged 14, he started sketching his fashion ideas on paper.  For 2 -3 years following that, he continued this and in 1969 he sent his designs to all the major designers. In 1970, the day of his birthday he got his first response from Pierre Cardin who invited him to work with him for a year.

After working for Pierre Cardin, Gaultier joined Jean Patou's famous couture house, as an assistant to Michael Gomez, then known as Angelo Tarlazzi. In 1973, he joined Jacques Esterel, then in 1974 he returned to Pierre Cardin looking after his shop in the Philippines, where he designed clothes for Imelda Marcos.

In 1976 Gaultier started to manufacture the first kind of electronic jewellery with his collaborator, Mr. Francis Menuge. In October of that year, he presented his first collection under his own name, at the "Palais de la Decouverte" which comprised articles such as furnishings and table sets all fabricated in plaited straw.

A year later, he decided to start his own couture firm. His first collection was born in 1978 with partner Kashiyama. He held twice-yearly collections of feminine wear.

In 1984 Gaultier achieved recognition world wide with his men's collection "men in skirts" inspired by Brigitte Bardot's famous film "God Created Woman" in which men wore trousers as pencil skirts.

His 1985 Autumn/Winter collection included a Dalmatian spotted hat and a black and whitesuit. Two years later, Gaultier presented a silver Christmas dress of silver stretchy fabric, in an icy design with futuristic sleeves.

Jean-Paul Gaultier was also awarded with the French Fashion Oscar Award in 1997.

A year later, Gaultier decided to launch his jewellery line. In 1989, his collection had several designs with a corset theme. In 1990 he designed an outfit based on the artist Edgar Degas' painting of a ballet dancer.

The same year, Gaultier designed the collection for Madonna's world tour in order to promote her 'Blonde Ambition' album. Three years later Gaultier launched his perfume "Haute Perfumerie". His 1994 collection showed garments suitable for arctic climate, yet he tempered the Mongolian Asiatic look with some searing colours and printed shirts. Other outfits in 1994 include the Orientally inspired look, in crushed velvet, a tuxedo in navy wool, and some linen jackets. In 1996 Gaultier designed all the costumes for the film "Fifth Element" which was directed by Luc Besson.

That same year, Jean-Paul Gaultier presented his cowboy designs along with many other outfits and also a layered look
of multi-coloured scarves.


The Jean-Paul Gaultier Style

Gaultier does not like or work a lot with primary colours, he usually prefers ivory and half tones. He is a designer who has made his reputation by attaching 12" conical breasts to Madonna and putting men in Lycra jumpsuits covered in very small diamond shaped mirrors.

As his amazing fantasies glide down the runway, you can see some backless T-shirts, cutaway jackets with more space between than fabric, a riot of prints, insanely skirted mens pants and some beautiful women. Very little is ever what one would expect firsthand. This sets him well apart from other controversial designers. He starts with some classic point, something people are familiar with such as the blazer, or a chemise, then he decides to deform it, knot it, stamp on it, whilst attempting to retain its basic shape.

Jean-Paul Gaultier's vision for 21st century clothing is for spray-on disposable clothes, which are seamless and without openings. To take it off, one would pull firmly and then throw them away. According to Gaultier, our clothing has not changed drastically up till the 20th century, and styles and construction have not always kept completely in pace with the advances of technology. He says changes in the fashion world are always imminent. We all know that he will most surely be the right designer to put them into practice!

 

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