gaultier celebrates women

 

GAULTIER CELEBRATES WOMEN

 

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HOW JEAN PAUL GAULTIER SHAPED THE WORLD OF WOMEN’S FASHION FROM THE INSIDE OUT

Since 1976, Jean Paul Gaultier has been using humour to break taboos and further the cause of women's liberation. His vision of fashion has always put women and their bodies centre stage. Gaultier turned the world of women’s fashion on its head to further their liberation, and to present them in all their myriad forms, subtleties, rough edges and sensibilities. He flouted the conventions of the world of fashion and society in general — what a contradiction and so like Gaultier! Since his early days, Gaultier has strived to free women from the shackles and conventions of fashion. ​

He has always enjoyed exploring what femininity means, and challenging the way in which women are represented. Raw, powerful femininity, every which way and without compromise. And his vision found its mark and changed attitudes! Finally, here was a fashion designer who showed the world what real femininity looked like — unique, powerful, normcore, eccentric! Broken noses, perfect bodies, flaws... looks that spoke volumes and attitudes that radiated life experience. Gaultier created an iconoclastic vision of fashion that empowered women, and conveyed compelling and controversial messages. Every women was (and is) invited to take part — diverse, mixed, unconventional, non-stereotyped, curvaceous, skinny... No body shaming. Gaultier's hallmark? Joyful and inclusive fashion for all women!

 

“FOR ME, THERE IS AN INTIMATE LINK BETWEEN THE IDENTITY OF THE GARMENT AND THE BODY THAT WEARS IT.”

JEAN PAUL GAULTIER

LOUD AND PROUD — SO LIKE A WOMAN, SO LIKE GAULTIER

Punk was the theme of Gaultier’s first collection in 1976. In fact, he was starting to express his progressive vision of the world. His female models embodied the trash spirit. Women with mohawks were dressed in torn fishnet stockings, straps and clothes made of rough materials, and wore ultra-dark tribal make-up. He has never been afraid to flout conventions! And shed on the underground scene!​

From the 1980s, Gaultier used women's fashion to pave the way to a sexual revolution.​

He pushed this revolution to the max giving wantonness and debauchery their rightful place. Women’s bodies were celebrated, vibrant and expressive. Freeing women's bodies from their shackles is his motto. His creations shine a light on women’s power.​

Women as mere clothes hangers? Not for this enfant terrible of the fashion world! Gaultier wanted to give women a voice. His fashion shows are a platform for women, a means of expression that furthers their empowerment and liberation. The message is loud and clear: women no longer want to be seen as “objects.” ​

 

"when the breasts pierce the jacket, it's power and sensuality combined”

Jean Paul Gaultier

CONCEAL TO REVEAL

Reappropriation and reinvention. Gaultier gave women’s clothes new functions, like the corset that had previously been hidden from sight. The corset went from being an outmoded means of restraining and subjugating a woman’s body to a modern contemporary garment. Its symbolic powder pink hue was a nod to his beloved grandmother. And don’t forget that Gaultier trialled his first conical breasts on his teddy Nana. During her 1984 “Blond Ambition Tour,” Madonna wowed the world as she stepped on stage wearing the now iconic corset. She resembled a powerful Amazonian warrior wearing a couture bustier. And from that time on, the corset came out from the shadows and stepped into the limelight. Over the decades, the corset and its various reimaginings have played a key role in the collaboration between Gaultier and Madonna.

 

​In his 1986 collection “Voyage autour du monde en 168 tenues” (Around the World in 168 Outfits), Gaultier denounced the imprisonment of the body by designing narrow sheath dresses that restricted his models’ ability to move and walk freely. Other examples of his creative approach include his jumpsuits that purposely revealed the wearer’s lingerie — a theme that has run through many of his collections. Thumbing his nose at these archaisms, his creations showcase what society likes to hide — as a way to better shed a light on it.

SKIN BEAUTIFUL

While women's bodies have always inspired Gaultier, skin fascinates him even more. With Gaultier, skin becomes an artwork – a canvas for all to see. Using skin, Gaultier pushed his creative boundaries to the limit with S&M, bondage, saints and sluts, etc. Skin informed his designs for clothes. Skin and clothing merged to become as one. Gaultier pushed the boundaries further still with his bodysuits, tights and strapped jumpsuits. For his 1990 Autumn-Winter collection “Femmes entre elles” (Women Among Themselves), skin was clothed in fur, antlers and Madonna halo crowns. ​

The 1994 Spring-Summer collection “Tatouages” (Tattoos), showed women’s pierced and tattooed bodies. Naked skin featured primitive, tribal designs. Totally transparent outfits made their début. He used skin as a means of expression and a sensual medium for his artistic creation. Bodies were both glorified and mistreated. For the “Morphing” collection, Gaultier’s creations hug the body — balaclavas, patchwork, ultra-tight jumpsuits. In his later collections, Gaultier took the opportunity to explore a "futuristic" aesthetic, covering the body in cyber prints. Clothes become skin to create a trompe l'oeil effect.​

Gaultier is more interested in ‘being’ than ‘appearing’. His designs are a testament to confident femininity where women are comfortable in their own skin.

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A LOVE STORY... THAT NEVER ENDS

Jean Paul Gaultier calls out to all women — Be yourself! What an amazing message of freedom. And the proof is in his imaginary changing room where all beauties are welcome. And everyone puts in an appearance, from goody-goodies to cheeky Parisians. Bad girls, rebellious bohos and tomboys. Baby dolls and queens of the night. What a glorious melting pot! What a celebration of womanhood! Jean Paul adores women. From every angle and under every light, from the street to the stars, from the limelight to the silver screen. He loves them all. Curvaceous or willowy. Blond, brunette or auburn. Women of the world. Or not. The wild child who shook up the fashion world embraces differences! By turning his back on traditional standards of beauty. In Jean Paul’s world “look pretty and keep quiet” does not exist. So there! Finally, let’s pay tribute to the women who first inspired this fashion prodigy. A big thank you to his beloved grandmother, Marie, for her beauty salon, her frills and flounces, her corsets and her basques. And to the dancers of the Folies Bergère… Ooh la la! Who made his eyes pop out of his head as he watched them on TV! Thanks to all these amazing women, the little Jean Paul discovered a whole new world that made him want to live in a permanent show — where all the stars were women!

According to Jean Paul Gaultier: “Elegance is about attitude, not clothes.”

ALL FIRE - ALL WOMAN!

As Jean Paul Gaultier says: "As long as your spirit is strong, you can show off your body” — immediately encouraging acceptance of individuality and diversity, however quirky. For over 50 years, Jean Paul Gaultier has been repeating this ode to the freedom of being yourself. He loves to surround himself with strong, assertive women who adore clothes and perfume — but who never allow themselves to be boxed in! Long live the anything-but-Classique women, long live self-confident women who proclaim their freedom loud and proud, and long live women who celebrate their shape and never apologise for it. Long live mischievous, naughty women who aren’t afraid to buck conventions and upset the established order. And women who revel in the scandal they leave in their wake. Long live beautiful women with a devilish, almost savage sensuality who confidently and playfully employ their charms. Finally, long live the all-powerful, perfectly imperfect women who attract and mesmerise with their radiance and absolute confidence in who they are. Jean Paul Gaultier celebrates all divinely human women. And from fashion to perfumes, he offers them precious gifts to showcase their uniqueness.

 

"HERE ARE MANY KINDS OF BEAUTY, AND YOU FIND IT WHERE YOU LEAST EXPECT IT. IT'S BEAUTIFUL JUST BEING YOURSELF."

JEAN PAUL GAULTIER

AMUSING MUSES

A cool look spotted in the street, another discovered at a chic party. Who invented the character model? The king of street casting. And this was back in 1976! Since then, he’s introduced us to an amazingly diverse group of women! So many eclectic, atypical, known and unknown beauties, all different but all absolutely stunning. Do you know what sort of women inspire him? Liberated, fulfilled and funny women who are not afraid to be different. And who are incredibly proud of being their authentic selves. Among this eclectic group we find his spirited and faithful friend Rossy de Palma, the very voluptuous Kim Kardashian, his long-time muse Farida Khelfa, and the burlesque artiste Dita Von Teese. Not forgetting Laetitia Casta, Beth Ditto, Conchita Wurst and Rosalia. He’s also dressed Marion Cotillard in Cannes and a host of other stars, such as Caro, Jeunet, Besson and Almodovar. And let’s not forget to celebrate the incredible creativity of Madonna, Kylie Minogue, Mylène Farmer and so many others… whether in a book, a show or a poem. Women, life and love in every shape and form!

The corset that bucks convention

From the catwalk to his naked perfume bottles, the corsets created by fashion’s wild child have nothing to hide. Quite the opposite. The Gaultier Divine bottle reimagines the corset and celebrates confident, uninhibited femininity

A FRAGRANCE OF FREEDOM TO SHOWCASE YOUR UNIQUENESS     

Whether with his iconic fragrances or fashion collections, Jean Paul Gaultier adores bucking convention. Whether you are whimsical or quirky, keen to explore your dreams and desires, or provocative or inspiring, Jean Paul Gaultier has a fragrance that will help you express every facet of your unique personality."