Gaultier before Gaga and Sexy!

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Gaultier 2011 -Valerio Mezzanotti for The New York Times; Jacques Brinon/Associated Press

Jean Paul Gaultier is a French haute couture designer (for those of you who may not know) and he has designed for over 30 years - before Madonna and cone shaped bras, before Dita Von Teese and her corset lace up dress and before Gaga shared her life accomplishments and fashion inspirations with the ever so friendly and humble Gaultier on the tube. 

I am not writing this article to be coy or throw a paint can of malice on anyone but I feel the need as a fashion alumni to pay homage to fashion designers and artists so that mylunakiss readers are aware - knowledge of history removes the "ass" out assumptions.

Madonna's Cone Bra for Blonde Ambition Tour

Brief History on Gaultier

Jean Paul Gaultier was born in France in 1952 and became a fashion design prodigy at age 13 when he designed a collection of clothing for his mother and grandmother. In 1976, Gaultier launched his professional design career under the Gaultier label for a company called Mayagor while simultaneously designing ready-to-wear furs, swimwear, and leather clothing.

Alek Wek - Gaultier Spring

In 1978 Kashiyama, a wealthy Japanese clothing conglomerate discovered Gaultier's talent and he signed a licensing deal to create a full fashion collection for men and women. In 2004, Kashiyama formed a joint venture to expand retail business in Japan under the name Fusion...most of Gaultier's clothing was manufactured by Gibo, an Italian firm.

Jean Paul G. is known as one of the avant-garde fashion designers of the 21st century aka the "Prince of Perversity".

Present and Past Gaultier Accomplishments:

He was the creative director at Hermes from 2003 to 2010 and he has designed costumes for several films like The Fifth Element and The City of Lost Children.

Milla Jovovich - Fifth Element - Jean Paul Gaultier - Costume Designer

In 1985 Gaultier introduced man-skirts pre Alexander McQueen (RIP also an amazing designer) and created works of artistic corset exaggeration for Madonna during the nineties (famous cone bra for her 1990 Blond Ambition Tour). Gaultier designed the wardrobe for Madonna's 2006 Confessions Tour as well. 

Gaultier's design style is a historical international reconstruction spanning from African tribes to the Greek goddesses of mythical stories to fictional 50's comic Heroes mixed with baudy humor and a heavy dose of sex and restrained exaggeration.

Gaultier is unconventional in the conservative world of high fashion (which is a contradiction since fashion is supposed to be an artistic interpretation without boundaries). 

Enfant Terrible

Dita Von Teese - Gaultier Design

Gaultier used a variety of unique models for his fashion exhibitions (not monotonous model catwalk fashion show) - like older men and full-figured women like Mia Tyler, pierced and heavily tattooed models, and for flirting with traditional gender roles in his shows. This outward expression has earned Jean Paul both criticism and acclaim.

On June 15, 2000, Gaultier was given the International Award at the American Fashion Awards, presented by the Council of Fashion Designers of America. 

Jean Paul Gaultier Quotes:

"We are in a world where many people are staying at home on the Internet, not doing anything. I think the moment now for couture is right because it's a small fantasy. It's special, and for only one customer at a time."

Read more on Gaultier at biography.com