On September 5th, I attended Toronto Fashion Week’s opening presentation interview with guest speaker Jean Paul Gaultier. I wanted to learn more about the designer’s philosophy on fashion after seeing his Love is Love Exhibition at the Museum of Fine Arts in Montreal this past summer.
Jean Paul came from humble beginnings in France and was especially close to his grandmother. Her love of fashion introduced him to a new creative world which quickly became his life’s passion.
Gaultier feels the lines are blurred between what is masculine and feminine. This philosophy eventually lead him to create the God Created Man Collection which made him famous because it was deemed to be controversial to feature men wearing skirts.
When you look back into fashion history; for the African, Greek, Roman, and Scots men; wearing robes and skirts was the norm. Does Gaultier have a point about blurred lines and have we just conveniently forgotten where we came from or have we become too attached to what we deem as being normal by placing too many fashion restrictions upon ourselves?
He points out how political, social, and historical movements have created many fashion evolutions over the decades. Women, for example, threw away their corsets and started wearing trousers in the 1920’s which at the time was very controversial but is now accepted as normal.
Jean Paul’s was also inspired by French culture, Bridget Bardot, Christian Dior, Yves St. Laurent and Madonna. He sees Madonna as the perfect example of femininity being born out of masculinity and designed for her concert shows with that in mind when he created the pointed cone bra and corset that went over trousers for her Blonde Ambition Tour in the 1990’s.
The designer has been described as one who mixes couture with attitude. He would describe his design approach as one that is based on craftsmanship and workmanship, and is creatively lead by his instincts.
Even with his awards and world-wide recognition; Jean Paul feels is it important to remain humble and authentic and has never forgotten his simple French roots and what his grandmother first taught him about fashion.