Leading up to the Jean Paul Gaultier exhibit at San Francisco’s de Young Museum, the museum has been hosting a series of lectures lead by different noteworthy individuals. These include Melissa Leventon, a curator, professor and specialist on European and American costume and textiles and Nathalie Doucet, a French-born former designer and professor who founded Arts of Fashion Foundation. lectures included everything from Gaultier, to the history of couture and more. Being fashion fans ourselves, we put these lectures (as well as the upcoming opening) at the top of our to-do lists!
Heralded as both the ‘enfant terrible’ of fashion and the savior of couture, Gaultier’s work as always blurred the lines of fashion. Whether it was Madonna’s Blonde Ambition cone bras or transexual collections, his designs have always strived to fight the known social-sexual conventions involved in fashion. Entitled ‘The Fashion World of Jean Paul Gaultier: From the Sidewalk to the Catwalk’ this exhibit will display Gaultier’s work and his two main inspirations: the London grunge punk scene and the Paris femme. the show is split up into 6 parts, each showcasing a certain aspect of Gaultier fashion and inspiration.
The Odyssey of Jean Paul Gaultier: features signature Gaultier pieces including the Breton stripes.
The Boudoir: looks at perhaps his biggest statement making pieces: lingerie. underwear as outerwear from Madonna’s Blonde Ambition tour to corsets for men.
Skin Deep: more sex + fashion. this time looking at bondage and body art inspirations and pieces.
Punk Cancan: it’s the French vs. the Brits in the ultimate catwalk vs sidewalk showdown. the French femme and the British Punk.
Urban Jungle: haute couture as well as the influences of cultures from around the world for Jews to Mongolians.
Metropolis: looks beyond Madonna’s famed cone corsets into other work Gaultier has done for films, music and more.
The exhibit will run from March 24 thru August 19. For more information on the exhibit and happenings head here: de Young: Gaultier
image: de Young