This article forms part of the Decorative and Applied Arts Encyclopedia, a master reference hub providing a structured overview of design history, materials, movements, and practitioners.
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Quirky, erotic fashions and exquisite tailoring
Jean-Paul Gaultier (b.1952) French Fashion Designer. Before launching his label in 1976, Gaultier worked for Cardin, Jacques Esteirel, and Patou. From the onset, Gaultier was dubbed the ‘enfant terrible de Paris’. He eschewed the late 1970s fad for natural fibres in his collections instead of imitation leather, artificial fur, nylon, viscose, metal, and rubber. Abstraction, surrealism, 1950s kitsch, and London street style, particularly punk, have affected Gaultier. His unexpected juxtapositions, such as combining biker leather jackets with ballet tutus, have made headlines. Corsets, conical bras, and velvet corset skirts were among the items in his high-tech collection, including bracelets made from cat food tins.
Gaultier has eschewed current Western society’s fixation with thinness, employing models of various ages, shapes, and sizes. He’s also encouraged manly splendour by bringing back heels, lace, and powdered faces, as well as enlisting male models like Marilyn, an English pop sensation. In 1985, he developed men’s skirts and skirts/trousers, which had one leg in Jean-Paul Gaultier trousers and the other in a skirt, and were manufactured in traditional pinstripes or worsted.
While Gautier is known for his gimmicks, his clothing is also highly regarded for its excellent cut and impeccable craftsmanship.
Source
Patterson, R. F. (1990). The Illustrated Dictionary of Twentieth-Century Designers. Tophi Books.
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