Jean Paul Gaultier Spring 2016 Couture

Every designer has an inspiration for his or her collection, but few take their subject matter as far and as deep as Jean Paul Gaultier. He loves to play on the side of kitsch and shows some of the most ostentatious and bold looks on the runway season after season: creating one of the must-see catwalks consistently and essentially making him a natural fit for Couture. His Spring 2016 influence was that of legendary Parisian hotspot, Le Palace—a party go-to in the 70’s for people like Gaultier and all of his famous friends and muses.

Punk Queen Edwige Belmore was the motivation behind the assortment of 80’s power suits, the brand’s signature menswear-inspired tailoring, loungewear that we’d all love to wear outdoors, head-turning metallics, and vibrant colors. Larger-than-life curls on the models and sultry red lips were a nod to another icon of the era, Farida Khelfa, who just happened to be taking in the show from the front row.

Gaultier’s runways are always a party and this one was a veritable smash: jam packed with sixty-seven ensembles. Out of the gate, bedroom-inspired dressing was on the menu with long contrast-trim jackets that could double as robes, silky trousers, sumptuous satin trim, beautiful brocade, and embellished stripes.

Lace injected romance into the assortment on slinky slip dresses, barely-there blouses, a completely sheer one-shoulder gown layered over a classic collared shirt and tie, and a waterfall hem tunic and trousers that screamed red carpet in spite of their unabashed effortlessness.

A woman has to be quite the daredevil to wear JPG on the red carpet. Style mavens like Lady Gaga, Marion Cotillard, Alicia Keys, and Naomi Campbell wore the brand last year, thus they may slip on a design or two next month at the GRAMMYs and Oscars.

Gaultier brings great happiness and pleasure to fashion. The industry has been doing considerably better when it comes to the level of seriousness to which it holds itself, but the iconic French designer continues to make it all fun and enjoyable no matter what stance is steadfastly clung to around him. This was as carefree and lighthearted as it can possibly get, while still churning out fabulous clothes of great quality. It truly doesn’t get any better than that.



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Images: VOGUE.com