Today is the fashion legend Jean Paul Gaultier's birthday! We dispatched OCNY alum Caitlin Truman to give us the scoop on the much talked-about JPG retrospective currently in San Francisco.
Over the weekend, I spent Earth Day with my good friends Katie and Justin drinking coffee in Golden Gate Park and then touring The Fashion World of Jean Paul Gaultier: From the Sidewalk to the Catwalk at San Francisco's de Young Museum. Despite the foggy afternoon weather (or was it smoke left over from 4/20?) the show was packed with giddy fans of all ages, many of them clad in blue and white stripes.
Upon entrance to the show, we were warned: THIS EXHIBITION CONTAINS ADULT THEMES. The multimedia exhibit includes 140 haute couture and prêt-à-porter looks dating back to 1971, and every single moment of the show is strange, marvelous, and great. Many of the mannequins have holographic faces (including one of JPG himself!) that sing and speak, eyeing the viewer coyly.
Besides the clothing, there are iconic fashion photography prints, runway videos, and objects like Gaultier's childhood teddy bear that he decorated with make-up, and even a very small newspaper-print cone bra! Another bonus is the life-size mannequin runway show, which features many notable ensembles like the body suit worn by Beyoncé in her video for "Video Phone"! I mean, I was pretty excited.
Closes on August 19th, 2012.
DE YOUNG MUSEUM
50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Drive
San Francisco, CA 94118
MAP![]()
JPG mannequin in the outfit he wore in the documentary Gaga by Gaultier
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JPG scrawls a personal greeting on the gallery's entrance.
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Brought up by strong women, Gaultier never subscribed to the myth of "the weaker sex." He has repeatedly reinterpreted the female body through fashion with irreverent humour, and is known for having said, "The first fetish I did was the corset. That was because of my grandmother."
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From an ad once placed by JPG: "Non-conformist designer seeks unusual models––the conventionally pretty need not apply."
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Saint Nitouche, Gaultier's first gown (summer 1971)
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Virgin with the Serpents (Kylie Minogue) (2008), painted photograph
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Prototype for Ben Hur armchair designed in 1992 for the 50th anniversary of the furniture company Roche Bobois
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Girl with Hat (Kate Moss) by Steven Meisel. Hat from Chic Rabbis collection, prêt-à-porter FW '93-'94, published in Harper's Bazaar November '93.
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Madonna
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Over the weekend, I spent Earth Day with my good friends Katie and Justin drinking coffee in Golden Gate Park and then touring The Fashion World of Jean Paul Gaultier: From the Sidewalk to the Catwalk at San Francisco's de Young Museum. Despite the foggy afternoon weather (or was it smoke left over from 4/20?) the show was packed with giddy fans of all ages, many of them clad in blue and white stripes.
Upon entrance to the show, we were warned: THIS EXHIBITION CONTAINS ADULT THEMES. The multimedia exhibit includes 140 haute couture and prêt-à-porter looks dating back to 1971, and every single moment of the show is strange, marvelous, and great. Many of the mannequins have holographic faces (including one of JPG himself!) that sing and speak, eyeing the viewer coyly.
Besides the clothing, there are iconic fashion photography prints, runway videos, and objects like Gaultier's childhood teddy bear that he decorated with make-up, and even a very small newspaper-print cone bra! Another bonus is the life-size mannequin runway show, which features many notable ensembles like the body suit worn by Beyoncé in her video for "Video Phone"! I mean, I was pretty excited.
Closes on August 19th, 2012.
DE YOUNG MUSEUM
50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Drive
San Francisco, CA 94118
MAP
JPG mannequin in the outfit he wore in the documentary Gaga by Gaultier
JPG scrawls a personal greeting on the gallery's entrance.
Brought up by strong women, Gaultier never subscribed to the myth of "the weaker sex." He has repeatedly reinterpreted the female body through fashion with irreverent humour, and is known for having said, "The first fetish I did was the corset. That was because of my grandmother."
From an ad once placed by JPG: "Non-conformist designer seeks unusual models––the conventionally pretty need not apply."
Saint Nitouche, Gaultier's first gown (summer 1971)
Virgin with the Serpents (Kylie Minogue) (2008), painted photograph
Prototype for Ben Hur armchair designed in 1992 for the 50th anniversary of the furniture company Roche Bobois
Girl with Hat (Kate Moss) by Steven Meisel. Hat from Chic Rabbis collection, prêt-à-porter FW '93-'94, published in Harper's Bazaar November '93.
Madonna
