Notorious for rebellious and
innovative designs, Jean
Paul Gaultier has long been
known as the enfant
terrible (bad boy) of
fashion. From his creation
of the conical bra in the
nineties to his
unconventional use of
materials, Gaultier is
constantly at the edge of
boundaries with his master
craftsmanship and exquisite
attention to detail.
Gaultier’s story of success
is a one-of-a kind tale. At
the age of 18, with no
previous formal training, he
was hired as a design
assistant for Pierre Cardin
in Paris after sending his
promising sketches to the
designer in the mail. Six
years later, after working
at the design houses of
Jacques Esterel and Jean
Patou, Gaultier launched his
first womenswear collection
in Paris. Early on, he
introduced elements that
have remained Gaultier
signatures, such as the
navy-and-white striped
Breton fisherman's sweater
and the reconstructed trench
coat.
Gaultier’s popularity comes
partially from the risks
that he takes in his designs
and theatrical shows. By
infusing androgynous styles
and punk references from
American and English
streetwear into designer
fashion, Gaultier turned the
classic idea of Parisian
chic on its head.
In the 1990s, Gaultier
became globally famous for
the provocative costumes he
designed for Madonna's world
tours, constructing cone bra
corsets and skintight black
suits. More success
followed when Gaultier
presented his haute couture
collection in 1997 which was
celebrated for its
meticulous design and
craftsmanship. In 2000, the
CFDA presented Gaultier with
the prestigious
International Award and
three years later he became
the designer at the French
luxury house Hermès,
replacing Martin Margiela,
one of his former
apprentices.
Today, Gaultier is designing
womenswear, menswear,
accessories, fragrance and
couture for a worldwide
audience. His devotion to
revolutionizing fashion each
decade makes his clothes
perfect for women who want
to make a statement and are
not afraid to take risks.
These traits are what make
Gaultier, himself, a fashion
icon of this generation.
