07 Jul 2010, Posted by admin in Fashion,Previews, 0 Comments

dita von teese strips down for jean paul gaultier couture

Jean Paul Gaultier couture began with a sweaty room full of impatient journalists and clients and ended with a strip show–that’s spectacle for you. The Gaultier show was scheduled to start at 2:30 pm, and an hour past the start time the show had still not started. Why the delay? Gaultier was awaiting his close personal friend, and fashion icon Catherine Deneuve (ok, I have to admit if I was a designer I am pretty sure that I would wait for her too). When she did show up she was wearing a green silk trench coat, and the show went on. What followed was a breathtaking collection that screamed 1930s screen siren goes to Paris. The trench, a signature of Gaultier’s, opened the show, reconfigured with batwings and made of gabardine. A pinstripe suit was paired with a dramatic fox stole. There were feather and velvet cocktail dresses, Gaultier’s take on ‘Le Smoking Jacket’ and major shoulder moments fueled by inspiration from the 1940s. The feathered ball gown skirt paired with a leather top drew actual applause from the audience. And most everything in the collection was paired with dramatic turbans. There were tons of elements in the collection that felt like an ode to classic French style–red lips and nails, fishnet trompe-loeil stalkings with eiffel towers printed on the backside, and t-strap stilettos. Most of the models were carrying long cigarette holders and silver cigarette cases, which added a great cinematic quality. The show closed with Dita Von Teese taking to the runway in a black Vionnet inspired gown before stripping down to a corset and thigh highs (part of a new collaboration between Gaultier and La Perla). A model then took to the runway in a belted white wedding trench, playing a white violin. It was great to end couture week celebrating French style–especially under Gaultier’s careful and seductive hand.

–Leah Bourne